June 8, 2009
His Master's Voice
When speaketh the man to whom Barack H. Obama prostrated himself the first time they met, does the president listen? Worse -- does he obey?
In the most recent demonstration of the respect and deference the rest of the world displays for the One They Have Been Laughing At, the King of Saudi Arabia has laid down the law to BO:
King Abdullah told Obama during his visit to Riyadh last week that Arab patience was wearing thin and that a solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict would be the "magic key" to all issues in the region, al-Hayat said, quoting what it called informed sources.
"We want from you a serious participation to solve the Palestinian issue and impose the solution if necessary," the Saudi monarch told Obama, according to the paper, which is owned by a nephew of the monarch. It did not elaborate.
It didn't need to; it's patently obvious that Abdullah refers to the "peace plan" enunciated by Saudi Arabia seven years ago, when Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud was king, and half-brother Abdullah (bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud) a mere princeling.
The plan is brutally simple: The Palestinians get everything they (and the Arab states) want -- a return to the pre-1967 border, full recognition of a contiguous Palestinian state comprising the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (necessitating cutting Israel in twain, of course), complete control of East Jerusalem (including the Temple Mount), the retreat of Israel's capital from Jerusalem back to Tel Aviv, and of course the right of "return" for millions of radicalized Moslems -- who have lived their entire lives in so-called "refugee" camps outside Israel, as did their fathers and grandfathers before them.
In fair exchange, Israel gets grudging recognition as a state, though not a Jewish state -- for ten full years, if Fatah can be believed. Which they can't.
King Abdullah explained exactly why Obama should stick a shiv into our most reliable ally in the Middle East, one of only two democracies in the region (the other is the one we created in Iraq): "We (Arabs) want to devote our time... to build a generation capable of confronting the future with science and work."
Well! Who can argue with that? Clearly, Israel deleda est.
This is yet another test for a president who hasn't a very good track record on such examinations: After Abdullah witnessed -- to his evident startlement -- Barack Obama bowing deeply at the waist upon meeting the real-sounding but fabricated monarch of a manufactured country of nomadic goat herders, whose chief export after petroleum products is probably animal hides, the king could be excused for thinking we had a patsy for president. The question is whether Mr. Abdullah is right.
So far there has been no response from the White House to the abrupt order issued to our president by the "king" of Saudi Arabia. If the administration means to snub the man (and they should), it needs to do so explicitly, publicly -- and posthaste. The longer it and Obama himself hesitate, the more uncertain, nervous, rattled, and agitated they appear... so much the worse for the country.
Well?
Tick tick tick tick...
Hatched by Dafydd on this day, June 8, 2009, at the time of 12:23 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this hissing: http://biglizards.net/mt3.36/earendiltrack.cgi/3686
Comments
The following hissed in response by: adagioforstrings
"one of only two democracies in the region (the other is the one we created in Iraq)"
Well, that's somewhat disingenuous, since Lebanon is also a democracy, & as Ace points out, with their very own protest babes.
The above hissed in response by: adagioforstrings ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://biglizards.net/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 8, 2009 3:36 PM
The following hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh
Adagioforstrings:
It remains to be seen whether Lebanon is a democracy... that is, whether Iran will allow the results to stand or will set its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, to riot in the streets until it's given veto-powers unearned by the vote.
Like last time.
Dafydd
The above hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh at June 8, 2009 6:32 PM
The following hissed in response by: Ken Hahn
The correct response to Abdullah's rant would have been, "Your Majesty, the American people are losing patience. Iraq has proved that Arabs can have a vibrant democracy. So why should the people of Arabia be subject to a kleptocratic tribal monarchy? Why shouldn't the people of Arabia run the place instead of the Sauds?"
The above hissed in response by: Ken Hahn at June 10, 2009 10:37 AM
Post a comment
Thanks for hissing in, . Now you can slither in with a comment, o wise. (sign out)
(If you haven't hissed a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Hang loose; don't shed your skin!)© 2005-2009 by Dafydd ab Hugh - All Rights Reserved
)
