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| International |
| Newsday editorial on The Briefing... |
| 2002-08-08 |
| Call It Diplomacy, But It's Hypocrisy on Saudi Arabia The devil's bargain the al-Saud family has made is to allow Islamic fundamentalists to focus their vitriol on the United States and Israel as long as they do not try to depose the royal family. In a sense, Washington has gone along with that bargain for its own reasons. The Saudis are hardly models of democracy, but as long as they can keep their nation out of the hands of radical Islamists - and control the oil supply they sit on - the United States will tolerate distasteful, even hostile behavior. So be it, at least for now. Creative hypocrisy is a tool of diplomacy, after all, and morality is about as welcome in foreign policy as a preacher in a bordello. But someday the contradictions may become unsustainable. Even Newsday sees it? When did they become a "right-wing rag"? Call it hypocrisy for now, but everything comes in its own time. Once the table's been set, we can begin the feast... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |