Saudis Criticize Kerry for 'Bashing' their Kingdom

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Friday criticized Democratic presidential challenger Sen. John Kerry Saudi bashing is not an energy policy," an official with the Saudi Embassy in Washington said.

In his nomination acceptance speech Thursday night, Kerry said he wants America to use technology to become energy independent and end its reliance on Saudi oil.

"I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation -- not the Saudi royal family," he said. The personal and financial ties between the Saudi royal family and President Bush and his family have been criticized in books and in Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11." for "bashing" the kingdom when he called on the United States to cut its dependence on the Middle East nation's oil.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040730/pl_nm/campaign_saudi_kerry_dc_1

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Saudi Arabia endorses Bush? Big surprise!

[burythehatchet]

1. This is GREAT news

its like hitting the jackpot in terms of PR.

[unblock]

2. "bashing": the favorite whine of the thin-skinned

he didn't criticize THEM.
he criticized our reliance on them. big difference. in fact, if anything, it's a compliment to them that we CAN rely on them.

he just wants us not to HAVE to rely on them.

[Generator]

4. I know

Bash my ass! But you know what, it so clearly shows what horse the Saudis are betting on in November. (and more than betting as we know and fear)

[Deja Q]

3. Didn't * make a deal with the Saudis to lower oil prices?

At either rate, Kerry needs to attack without making it LOOK like he's attacking. The Saudis, via oil OR investments, can destroy our economy faster than you can say "Oops."

[qanda]

5. How exactly was that bashing?

I think the majority of Americans want energy independence. It's a crying shame that we have to fight wars to have enough oil.

[wuushew]

6. I am curious, what does the left want to happen in Saudi Arabia?

Currently a corrupt and medieval regime reigns over a oil rich country that is experiencing 70% unemployment and an ever increasing population. Given that these two factors promote terrorism and civil unrest how we expect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to improve its' government by western standards without first transitioning to a military strong man type figure? If the government is overthrown the short term effects would be economic disruption and interruption of law enforcement. What do we do when the long term situation sucks and so does the overthrow of the House of Saud?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. We could, for a change, try doing what's right.

The downfall of the Saudi Royal Family is long overdue. We could let the people decide their own fate without our "help". We could start by cutting off military aid to the government.

[Mikimouse]

7. That is a not too vague threat from the Saudis!...

n/t

[Radical Activist]

8. I was shocked by that line

and I loved it. I didn't expect Kerry to be that gutsy in his speech. He had a few other lines I would expect Kucinich to say, but not Kerry. I was pleased.

[JohnKleeb]

16. goes to show you, Kerry does learn and he's got courage

Yes, Kerry borrowed from all the candiates, his very hardline against outsourcing was a joint borrowing from Dick Gephardt and DK, his line about reclaiming the flag was from Dean, reporting for duty was from Clark when Clark joined the Kerry campaign, we are all in the same boat from Braun, the lincoln quote from Edwards, the line about fear mongreling from DK. Kerry also added a lot of his own stuff in to that speech but he got on with a little help from his friends heh as the song says. I wasnt surprised honest, Kerry did learn a lot from his past opponents and he respects them, and he has a lot of courage on his own, glad you were pleased, I sure was, I was so proud to hear that speech, the man has always been a fan of mine and to think he wrote that himself.

[Swamp Rat]

9. Good! The aiyrab-islamo-satanists support Bush!

I'll be telling every fundie and repug I know about this. I am glad the Saudi's were listening and are taking action. Everything they do will be tied to their relationship with Bush&Co and we must make a BIG deal about it everytime.

Bush hates America BECAUSE he loves Saudi Oil.

[Pachamama]

11. AWESOME! #1 Financiering Country of Terrorists/Family Friends of Bu$h

....don't like Kerry? Wonder why? :eyes:

This is awesome....let Bu$h explain why he is so close with the Saudi Royal Family....

[CaTeacher]

12. GOOD!

When Kerry takes office the Saudi Royal family had better run for their lives--because they are going to be overthrown.

Kerry is not going to protect their corrupt butts the way the sleazy Bush cabal does.

Goodbye--corrupt and evil Saudi leaders.

[Pachamama]

13. AMEN, PRAISE ALLAH!

Yep....The House of Saud is going to fall....fast...The BUSH family and neo-cons will have everyone believing that would present instability in the Middle East, but the reality is they are only worried about their pocket books.

The sooner they fall, the sooner we have our own energy independence on alternative sources of fuel (which we need to anyway - there is only about 20 years of oil left) the better we will all be....that includes us, the people of the middle east, etc....

The people who will suffer - THE OIL PROFITEERS!

[Bluebear]

14. Thanks to mopaul...

[Zomby Woof]

15. Saudi Arabia can kiss my ass

Proof that the insanity of monotheism does have consequences, espeically when a theocracy is created from its muck.

[ConsAreLiars]

17. When Kerry takes a swing he hits the target and he hits HARD!

So, now the Saudis declare their loyalty to the BFEE and the "furriners like Frenchy Kerry" talking point has a bit of a problem, and the Moore documentary "allegations" get confirmed by the (other) Royal Family.

I was a little surprised, and more than a little pleased, when Kerry took that shot, but I didn't expect the payoff so quickly.