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Go Home Maureen Dowd And The Saudi Royals

THE SPINE MARCH 17, 2010

Maureen Dowd And The Saudi Royals

BY MARTIN PERETZ

Maureen Dowd spent a week in Saudi Arabia, presumably without having to wear the hijab or be smacked on her tush by themutaween to get her to pray. But now that she’s been to Riyadh, she is also an expert, an expert not so much on the huge peninsula but on Israel. Great place to learn!

You see, the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, has actually instructed her on Israeli politics. “[Faisal] warned me,” she tells us, “that Israel’s ultra-conservative religious groups were ‘killing every option that comes out that has peace in its objective’.” Of course, it is true that the prince--don’t be too impressed by the title: there are more princes in Saudi Arabia than taxi drivers--knows a whole lot about “ultra-conservative religious groups.” For instance, and just as an instance, 15 out of the 19 pious 9/11 hijackers hailed from Saudi Arabia.

I wonder, in fact, how many of Faisal’s royal cousins, if not actually his brothers (and perhaps he himself), have contributed to the ultramontane in Muslim politics and theology.

The Saudis have played their petro card very well, ever since Franklin Roosevelt went to visit Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud until Barack Obama bowed before Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the latter being one of the remaining five sons of the former, who was the country’s first king.

Dowd has not recorded whether she asked Faisal any tough questions about the kingdom’s attitude towards Israel.

What we know ourselves is that the monarchy would bless Netanyahu if he were to destroy the atomic arsenal of its great theological adversary.

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7 comments

She can always ask Tom Friedman to sneak into the Prince's desk drawer again.

- Lymon1

March 17, 2010 at 4:26pm

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Has anyone noticed how large Saudi Arabia has gotten over the last 200 years? The Kingdom just keeps taking over Arab Lands and getting larger. Starts out as a speck in the desert and they steal Mecca & Medina from Jordan, suddenly they have the whole pennisula. The poor Arabs from whom they stole this land and living in poverty and without any rights in the Kingdom. There are lots of experts on Israel and Saudi Arabia and they all have maps, plans and opinions.

- CRS9TNR

March 17, 2010 at 5:34pm

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Are there any, ah, "montanes" in Saudi Arabia, or just large sandhills?

- ironyroad

March 17, 2010 at 9:24pm

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"he prince--don’t be too impressed by the title: there are more princes in Saudi Arabia than taxi drivers--knows a whole lot about “ultra-conservative religious groups.” You are not giving the prince his due. He is a great liberal force within the kingdom. I distinctly remember many years ago in an interview with Barbara Walters (I think) he came out explicitly in favour of the idea that women should be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. He is also well versed in all the fineries of the Leftist progressive's latest knowledge about Israel's innermost satanic ambitions. In an interview with Charlie Rose a year or so ago he expressed his amazement that Israel is secretly planning to extend its domination from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean. "Where do they get this ideas"? he asked the dumbfounded Charlie in utter stupefaction. Methinks Dowd has surrendered to a bout of orientalism while in Arabia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OAlbfZRCvY

- noga1

March 18, 2010 at 8:57am

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It's true that Maureen Dowd's opinion peace is cutesy and ill-informed. But if you really want to get upset, read through the comments from her readership. What a concentration of hateful bigots who all share the same delusional narrative: i.e., arrogant, pushy Jews treading wantonly on the rights of the helpless oppressed natives. The "HIGHLIGHTS" tab features selected "thoughtful comments that represent a range of views." These views range from cutting off all aid to Israel to smacking them down first and then cutting them off at the knees to teach them a lesson. Either there is (1) no one with a knowledge of history or a sense of basic fairness who reads Dowd's column, or (2) comments provided by knowledgeable readers sympathetic to Israel's situation are deliberately excluded. Who needs jihadist websites when the NY Times is doing such a good job of fomenting hatred of Israel? Is anyone exploring legal venues to break the editorial death-grip of the anti-Israel crowd at the NYT?

- willjames77

March 18, 2010 at 3:16pm

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If you were shocked with those comments you should try the Guardian's Comment is Free section. You will not find a more "wretched hive of scum and villainy." congergating there under the banner of progressivism or whatever. And if you want to see what sometimes passes for "legitimate criticism" of Israel, try reading this, on "Simply Jews" blog: http://simplyjews.blogspot.com/2010/03/tammy-obeidallah-self-portrait-of-anti.html

- noga1

March 18, 2010 at 3:35pm

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Noga, I'm been aware of the Guardian's nature for some time, but finding such a preponderance of mindless hostility among the readers of the NYT surprised me. In any case, thanks for the link to the simplyjews blog. That was the perfect antidote...

- willjames77

March 18, 2010 at 6:07pm

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