Saudis buy political power in America.

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), Jan 30, 2009 at 11:38

Dear Romesh Chander ,

Thanks for your comments. I would agree with you , were it not for one single word in your line of argument : "we". The problem is that the decisions which have to be made are not made by "us" - the patriotic-minded and honest people like you or so many other Americans but by few members of the narrow power oligarchy that are - unfortunately- deeply involved in dealings with those powers which they are now supposed to harm and combat. I doubt if they are able or willing to do that. Probably if someone paid them more than the Saudis do, then they wouldn't mind ... but killing the goose that lays the golden eggs without having no substitute in sight? No politician would ever do that.

Since 9/11 it has become a public secret that the Saudis with 15 Saudi terrorists out of 19 were responsible for the attack. Yet nothing was done against them. What is more, they were protected and explained away ! Do you think it was a coincidence ? The guy who was the head of the American Republic at that time was to intents and purposes a Saudi stoodge. As Craig Unger writes (House of Bush, House of Saud:The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Families)

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/feature/2004/03/12/unger_2/

"The Bushes and their allies controlled, influenced or possessed substantial positions in a vast array of companies that dominated the energy and defense sectors. Put it all together, and there were myriad ways for the House of Bush to engage in lucrative business deals with the House of Saud and the Saudi merchant elite.(...) In charitable contributions alone, the Saudis gave at least $3.5 million to Bush charities -- $1 million by Prince Bandar to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, $1 million by King Fahd to Barbara Bush's campaign against illiteracy, $500,000 by Prince Al Waleed to Philips Academy, Andover, to finance a newly created George Herbert Walker Bush Scholarship Fund, and a $1 million painting from Prince Bandar to George W. Bush's White House.(...) In all, at least $1.476 billion had made its way from the Saudis to the House of Bush and its allied companies and institutions. It could safely be said that never before in history had a presidential candidate -- much less a presidential candidate and his father, a former president -- been so closely tied financially and personally to the ruling family of another foreign power. Never before had a president's personal fortunes and public policies been so deeply entwined with another nation. "

Now such depenedencies just don't disappear when the president leaves office. Bush and his Saudi friends and partners have many common secrets that will keep their friendship alive. But I am afraid that another volume by Craig Unger will be probably necessary to elucidate the relations and dependencies between the House of Obama and the House of Saud. For the time being I'd venture a guess that one can't enter as president the White House painted by the Saudis without the Saudi 'charities'. But the moment these 'charities' are paid and received , one can't expect any sanctions or political action against the Saudis. I'd see the threat by Turki in this context. He just wanted to remind the new administration of the old power of Saudi money America.

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