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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Skeet Shipman who wrote (45854)	9/21/2002 11:37:30 AM
From: Rascal	Respond to of 281500

Bush is declaring world victory without the fight. I hope he hasn't encouraged someone (other tha ALQ) to take a shot. Of course he has his bunker, and vaccines, and gas masks so what does he care. He's the opposite of Speak softly and carry a big stick. He's leading with our chin.

To: Skeet Shipman who wrote (45854)	9/21/2002 12:00:16 PM
From: Just_Observing	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Re: I believe the world's reaction will be economic There's already been a reaction in Saudi Arabia. A boycott of U.S. goods by Saudis angered by Washington's Middle East policies has led to a sharp fall in U.S. exports to Saudi Arabia, diplomats and economists said on Thursday. Official U.S. figures show exports plunged 33 percent to $2.8 billion between September, the month that suicide-bombers, most of them Saudis, attacked U.S. cities, and March. In the first quarter of 2002, exports fell 43 percent to $986 million from $1.74 billion a year earlier. Many Saudi consumers have shifted to European and Japanese products, encouraged by campaigners wearing Palestinian checkered headscarves who have distributed leaflets at mosques, schools and shopping malls, residents said. They urge Saudis to boycott U.S. household items, vehicles, food and beverages, fast-food restaurants and tobacco in protest at Washington's perceived pro-Israel bias and anti-Saudi campaigns by some U.S. senators and media following the September 11 attacks. "The reason (for the drop in exports) is definitely political. The boycott of made in U.S.A. products is a major contributor to this sharp drop," said Bisher Bakheet, managing director of Bakheet Financial Advisors. Oil power Saudi Arabia is the biggest energy supplier to the United States, with two-way trade estimated at $20 billion. US exports to many Islamic countries could come under increasing pressure. However, a slowdown in exports to Europe or Japan would be far more damaging. Bush's unilateralist positions on Global Warming coupled with his strident advocacy of a military strike against Iraq could damage US exports for years to come. Unfortunately, the greater the economic pressures in the US, the greater the urge for Bush to act unilaterally to preserve American interests. This is a vicious cycle with severe economic and military consequences for the world. commondreams.org PS The Saudis are rumored to have withdrawn $700 billion in assets from US markets since 9/11/01.