For Saudis, Bush Administration Ignores U.S. Law
For Saudis, Bush Administration Ignores U.S. Law
Vice President Dick Cheney recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects to the late King Fahd and the newly crowned King Abdullah. Apparently, the administration has more respect for the Saudi dictatorship than U.S. law.
Last September, after years of foot dragging, the Bush administration designated Saudi Arabia a “country of particular concern” for “severe religious freedom violations” pursuant to International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). The designation was based “not only on the Saudi government’s violations of religious freedom within its own borders, but also based on reports of its propagation and export of an ideology of religious hate and intolerance throughout the world.”
Under the IRFA, the administration is required to “take action to oppose religious freedom violations” in Saudi Arabia within 90 days of making the designation. The administration can choose from among 15 actions, ranging from a condemnation to significant economic sanctions.
But, more than 5 months after the 90 day deadline expired, the Bush administration has done nothing.
Religious fundamentalism and intolerance motivates much of the world’s terrorism. Why won’t the Bush administration treat the problems in Saudi Arabia seriously?
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Really? Have you also heard that a square has four sides… and Ann Coulter’s psychotic!
August 10th, 2005 at 10:26 amMaybe I better watch that Michael Moore movie again.
August 10th, 2005 at 10:29 amWhy are we surprised about this instance of ‘looking the other way’ when it comes to the saudis or for that matter anyone else from whom the Bushies can extract a benefit? We should be used to it by now, no?
August 10th, 2005 at 10:29 am…at least they’re not holding hands!
August 10th, 2005 at 10:34 am“at least they’re not holding hands!”
August 10th, 2005 at 10:43 amNo. But last night King Abdullah let Dick enter his sovereign land.
Someone should conceal themselves along Cheney’s path and when he walks by, jump out and give him a good startle. That’s all it would take.
August 10th, 2005 at 10:45 amOGeorgie Bin Bushen knows who’s BOSS! That would be the man sitting next to Mr. Mind Your Own Business in the picture: the King of the Oil World. You think Dick was getting a woody thinking about all the oil he was sitting on?
August 10th, 2005 at 10:48 amTake a look at Dick’s face. He’s thinking, damn, I wish I had the balls to dress like that.
August 10th, 2005 at 10:50 amThe U.S has opted for Action 15: a savage attack with comfy pillows.
August 10th, 2005 at 10:55 amThey ignore the law because they are above the law.
It doesn’t matter what bills have been passed. Bush is now allowed to conduct himself as though he were a Medieval French monarch.
August 10th, 2005 at 11:01 amAs most here know, Saudi Arabia is THE model for the future Middle-East, in the minds of the Neo-CONS.
The rerun of South Park was funny last night: We are a country that says one thing and does the opposite. That is what make us great and COA’s!
August 10th, 2005 at 11:13 am“I summon my blue-eyed slaves anytime it pleases me. I command the Americans to send me their bravest soldiers to die for me. Anytime I clap my hands a stupid genie called the American ambassador appears to do my bidding. When the Americans die in my service their bodies are frozen in metal boxes by the US Embassy and American airplanes carry them away, as if they never existed. Truly, America is my favorite slave.”
King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, Jeddeh 1993
Now where would the Saudi King get that idea?
August 10th, 2005 at 11:18 amThe Bush administration never had any intention of treating the problems in Saudi Arabia seriously. For Georgie “a country of particular concern” is a good thing — for his cronies’ wallets.
August 10th, 2005 at 11:32 amThe “BIG DICK” Cheney is over there protecting American corporate interests. Nothing more, nothing less. Oh yes, if you ever want to understand the Bushies relationship with the Saudis, Michael Moores documentary 9/11 is a good place to start.
August 10th, 2005 at 11:34 amThe Bush Regime is so similar to the Saudis in religious fantaticism and repression of women that they might as well BE the Saudis. Right after 911 when Bandar Bush was smoking a good cigar with Dubya, I wonder if they discussed how to more quickly turn our Democracy into an intolerant hateful theocracy? It’s gotten so bad that the religious KOOKS who rule us are now discussing limiting birth control to married couples! Mandidtory Baptist church membership, the burka, and removing voting rights for women and minorities can’t be far behind.
Religious fundamentalism and greed were motivations for Dubya to lie to get us to war, and Dubya doesn’t want reproductive rights for women world-wide. We ARE a fundamentalist extreme nation that does absolutely export of an ideology of religious hate and intolerance throughout the world. We are the Saudis, without the oil.
August 10th, 2005 at 12:33 pmCheryl – while I am 135% behind you in terms of getting rid of W et al, the Saudi’s are a lot worse than you think if you believe that we are anywhere near as bad as them. This doesn’t mean that we can’t BECOME as bad as them in the near future…
August 10th, 2005 at 1:06 pmThere are no problems in Saudi Arabia; women are happy,criminals are justly punished and the oil is flowing–King Abdullah
August 10th, 2005 at 1:21 pmI like the photo– Where is Cheney’s usual conceited and indignant airs?
He looks as if he’s his tail between his legs.
August 10th, 2005 at 1:30 pmWhy do this halfway? Why not give Jenna in marriage to some Saudi prince? We’ve got the dynasty to think of!
August 10th, 2005 at 2:20 pmWhy not give Jenna in marriage to some Saudi prince?
Cripes, man, are you trying to start World War Three?!?
August 10th, 2005 at 3:01 pmI don’t think Riyadh has the nightlife Jenna requires.
August 10th, 2005 at 4:08 pmWhen the Bush Regime thinks the time is right to overthrow the Saudi’s to take their oil and their land, the Saudi’s will all of sudden be worst than Saddam Hussein, they just won’t be on the axis of evil, they will be the evil. The Cons and unfortunately part of America won’t remember a dam thing about all of the cozying up to the Saudi’s
August 10th, 2005 at 6:03 pmWatch out Saudi’s, your turn to have the WMD’s is approaching
#22
But I do!
I figure if I can get both Jenna and Barbara sacked– videotaped and all– I’d be set for life. They’re frisky enough, don’t you think?
,S.
August 11th, 2005 at 10:11 pmTHe US GOVT HAS SOLD OUT TO THE SAUDIS
December 29th, 2005 at 2:13 am