Countries that opposed the U.S. decision to invade Iraq have no right to protest U.S. initiatives restricting reconstruction contracts to allies, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States, said Friday.
"Git yer chicken-pickin’ finger off’n that-there loot. That’s MY loot!"
Bandar said he thought it was "amusing" ``amazing’’ that war opponents now ``feel they have a right to share in the pie’’ of reconstruction contracts.
He’s a diplomat and he's amazed?
He said even more dangerous than terrorists themselves are those who say they condemn terrorism but don’t actively fight it. Bandar repeatedly praised Bush’s decisions to fight terrorism, invade Iraq and send troops to Afghanistan to oust the Taliban.
"We just came to the realization that the French are pigs, too!"
``We should be grateful for what the United States has done to get rid of those two evils, the Taliban and Saddam,’’ Bandar said, generating applause from hundreds in attendance of a luncheon co-sponsored by the Bilateral/U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Bandar’s always known how to warm up a crowd.
Bandar kept his comments about terrorism to a minimum despite recent terror attacks in Saudi Arabia and warnings of more to come. ``That fight has been imposed on us,’’ Bandar said. ``None of us asked for it.’’
"And so I shall stop talking about it."
Saudi Arabia has spent more than $17 million on public relations, advertising and lobbying in the United States since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to Justice Department records. Television ads have depicted Saudi Arabia as aligned with American interests, and the country has hired Washington lobbying and law firms to advance its case.
Not quite as bad as the French hiring Woody Allen and George Plimpton, but bad enough.
Bandar has toured the United States in conjunction with the ad campaign to promote Saudi Arabia’s relationship with America and its commitment against terrorism. ``We are your friends because you have never taken an action that would hurt our people,’’ Bandar said, ...
Had to have been a ventriloquist in the crowd, his lips definitely were off by then.
... adding that Saudi Arabia will continue doing its part to ``be right behind you shoulder to shoulder with you against evil.’
Don’t stand there, you’re making me nervous! |