18 January 2008

and on to Saudi

Our President has gone from wailing with the Israelis to cuddling with the Saudis, without pausing to wail the ongoing Palestinian Holocaust. Foolish us thinking peace was the mission.

The Saudis are great hosts as one knows from personal experience and of course will never tire of thanking Americans for discovering oil for them.

In Khartoum, Sudan, 1972-75, Madam made the acquaintance of many Saudi Arabians. .

Her first charming encounter occurred in a rather banal place and fashion. Madam was running a swim meet at the American Club. Posted all about were the hours of said meet, etc.

As the swimmers gathered there played in the pool a Saudi and his two young sons. “I’m sorry”, said Madam. “You will have to leave the pool.” One does not know enough Arabic curses to repeat the reply, but would not do so in any event. Finally, the culprits did depart with dark looks. Madam, unintimidated, wrote the club to ask that said Saudi family be expelled. We question that that happened but cannot swear.

The next encounter was a Black September operation hosted by the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Khartoum. The Saudi ambassador was giving a farewell party for departing U.S. DCM Curt M. Moore. It was attended by most local diplomats along with PLO/Black September. Hooded, gun bearing reinforcements arrived by auto, all the guards fled (a not uncommon practice- in fact we have never known one to stay). Many ambassadors and others escaped over the walls, but the departing U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel, and DCM. Curt Moore were held up by the Belgian chargé Guy Eid and all were hustled back into the embassy, bound and gagged. This went on for some 24 hours, viewed with bird glasses by Madam in a nearby building. The thugs proudly appeared on the balcony flashing V signs. Their demeanor was much that of hooligans, juvenile delinquents, smart asses. According to Madam’s thoroughly reliable eye witness, present throughout, the host, the Saudi Ambassador, assisted by his wife, the hostess, treated the visitors (those not bound and gagged) with due hospitality, offering food and beverages., and all comforts. Within a day our American Ambassador, DCM and the Belgian chargé had been executed in the basement of the Saudi Embassy. They were allowed to write their wills (substituting letters to wives) at the last minute. Our noble ambassador thanked the Saudi for his hospitality.

When the deaths were confirmed callers appeared at the U.S. Residence to condole with Mmes. Noel and Moore. Late at night among the callers came a young Saudi who graciously handed over to Madam the dead men’s bloody documents and announced that his Ambassador would receive the ladies at his residence to convey letters from their husbands. Madam mentioned this kind offer to visiting diplomatic personnel including the German DCM who took it upon himself to fall upon the dormant Saudi Ambassador and mention his was the most deplorable behavior he, the German, had witnessed in his life. The letters arrived. No apology.

Madam mixed it up with Saudi princes in Seychelles to which an entire New York brothel had flown its girls to add to the incredibly sumptuous feast.

Then, of course, we had 9/11. (Madam, outraged herself, outraged all by suggesting that the U.S., should have had planes over Saudi on 9/12 or 9/13 to take out two commercial and one military establishment. Hunting bin Laden would not have been necessary. He and entourage would have been rounded up and executed publicly the next day.)

We could do without their oil, we could bite the bullet, legislate energy self sufficiency and take our killer teen agers, drunk and otherwise stupified drivers and over 80s off the road. We could save American lives, but why?