The White House website, which typically trumpets all “achievements” of Bush, has nothing to say about Bush’s visit to the King’s ranch on May 16. Could it be that the PR pros are embarrassed by the image of the American President going cap-in-hand to beg the Saudis to pump more oil to alleviate price pressures on gas! You can bet the ranch on that. Luckily, Reuters and the Associated Press reported on the tete-a-tete, which featured Bush and Abdullah strolling hand-in-hand. There’s no image yet of the two leaders exchanging the region’s ritual double-kiss of manly affection.
Abdullah and Bush last shared a peck in January when Bush dropped by the King’s place to pick up his “King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit” (Bushie, You are doing a heckuva job!) and bend a knee before the monarch in another futile plea to raise production.
The White House site posted a boilerplate “fact sheet” on May 16 about “strengthening diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia.” It talks about nuclear cooperation and about how Saudi Arabia is working day and night to make sure that its people never again hijack commercial jets and smash them into U.S. landmarks, such as the former World Trade Center in New York.
The White House website has news of the President’s sessions with leaders from Iraq, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Israel, but nothing about Abdullah. It may be mute about the snub from Abdullah, who knows it is up to the U.S. to devise an energy policy to slash its independence from his oil. [Democrats pander just as badly as Bush when they threaten to withhold arms sales to the Kingdom unless it jacks up production by a million barrels per day.]
You know things are bad for Team Bush when reports surface that even ExxonMobil chairman Rex Tillerson is bad-mouthing Bush’s visit with the King as a policy that is “terribly upside down.”
Tillerson believes U.S. policymakers are two-faced when they urged the Abdullah to ramp it up while the same strategy is not followed here.
Rex, of course, wants the U.S. to open up Alaska, Malibu Coast, Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Everglades and mid-town Manhattan for intensive oil and gas development.
This blogger votes for alternative energy production, efficiencies, conservation and improved gas mileage over Rex’s rigs in Central Park.