Al of Arabia
Now playing on GoreTV. Check local listings.
AP reports: “Former Vice President Al Gore told a mainly Saudi audience on Sunday that the U.S. government committed ‘terrible abuses’ against Arabs after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that most Americans did not support such treatment.”
Thanks for clarifying, Al. But your not the voice of America. (Maybe Air America, though)
Gore said Arabs had been “indiscriminately rounded up” and held in “unforgivable” conditions. The former vice president said the Bush administration was playing into al-Qaida’s hands by routinely blocking Saudi visa applications.
“The thoughtless way in which visas are now handled, that is a mistake,” Gore said during the Jiddah Economic Forum. “The worst thing we can possibly do is to cut off the channels of friendship and mutual understanding between Saudi Arabia and the United States.”
Gore told the largely Saudi audience, many of them educated at U.S. universities, that Arabs in the United States had been “indiscriminately rounded up, often on minor charges of overstaying a visa or not having a green card in proper order, and held in conditions that were just unforgivable.”
We forgive them. And try this on for size: “most Americans” expect to the government to do whatever it takes to prevent another 9/11 (or worse) from happening again on our shores.
Michelle Malkin weighs in:
“The thoughtless way in which we handled Saudi visas before 9/11–handing them out indiscriminately like Pez candies through the State Department’s kowtowing Visa Express program–was the mistake. A deadly mistake.”
Like Pez candies, people. It’s war. It’s on.
February 13th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Democracy Hypocrisy: Bush Praises Saudi Arabia’s New King
President Bush, 6/14/05:
The best way to secure this country in the long run, though, is to spread democracy and freedom. We believe everybody deserves to be free. We believe everybody has a deep desire in their heart to live in a free society.
President Bush, 8/2/05:
On behalf of the United States, I congratulate my friend, King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, on assuming the Saudi throne and the position of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. We wish Saudi Arabia peace and prosperity under his leadership. I have spoken today to the new King, and the United States looks forward to continuing the close partnership between our two countries.
The Bush administration instituted a policy toward Saudi immigration in June, 2001, called “Visa Express.” Under this bent rule, Saudis could obtain U.S. visas without being photographed or having to apply in person.
3=Number of 11 September hijackers whose entry visas came through special US-Saudi “Visa Express” program.
140=Number of Saudis, including members of the Bin Laden family, evacuated from United States almost immediately after 11 September.
Bandar bin Sultan - Prince Bandar has endured controversy over allegations in the book Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward that President George W. Bush informed him of the decision to invade Iraq ahead of Secretary of State Colin Powell. Also, the book alleged a deal had been worked out to reduce oil prices just ahead of the November 2004 election. Bandar publicly endorsed President Bush.
Gore complained of “endemic hyper-corruption” among Tehran’s religious and political elite and asked Arabs to take a stand against Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes but the United States and other Western countries suspect Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
“Is it only for the West to say this is dangerous?” Gore asked. “We should have more people in this region saying this is dangerous.”
Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister
Tony Blair, made a plea at the forum for women’s rights, telling Saudi leaders that the dearth of women in the work force was “undermining economic potential” of the kingdom.
It was a forum in which lots of different opinions were expressed.
Such a complicated world. So many things to remember, facts to keep straight.
February 13th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Al Gore: America’s Crazy Aunt
Gore is your crazy aunt in the attic who never married. Not too bright, he flunked out of divinity school and law school. His wife is another loser. Remember that dopey crusade against rock lyrics 20 years ago? Even John Denver testified against it.
February 14th, 2006 at 5:09 am
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