Saudis to transfer $92 million to Palestinian Authority

Saudi Arabia, a key ally of President Bush, has split ranks with him over the need to isolate the newly elected Hamas regime in the Occupied Territories of Palestine, by agreeing to transfer $92 million in aid to the stricken Palestinian Authority.

This is by far the largest aid offer of recent times, with Russia pledging $10 million and Iran and Qatar offering $50 million apiece, bringing the total amount of aid pledged to just over $200 million.

The offer highlights the strange relationship between the Saudis, 15 of who's citizens flew planes into the twin towers on 9-11, and the US; who - as a result of 9-11 - invaded Afghanistan and Iraq and deepened their friendship with Saudi Arabia, who happen to possess 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

And at a time when the US is encouraging democracy throughout the world as a way of promoting peace (President Bush eloquently expressed this as, "Democracies don't war") the US appears to have no problem at all with Saudi Arabia continuing to be ruled by it's ageing Monarch, King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, who's country happens to possess 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

Similarly, when the US is seeking to promote human rights issues across the globe, citing, for example, the forced wearing of the burqa in Afghanistan as a reason to engage in the "liberation" of that country from the Taliban; in Saudi Arabia freedom of expression and association continue to be non-existent rights. Political parties and independent local media are not permitted, and even peaceful anti-government activities remain virtually unthinkable. Infringements on privacy, institutionalised gender discrimination, harsh restrictions on the exercise of religious freedom, and the use of capital and corporal punishment continue to be major features of the kingdom's human rights record. Indeed, Saudi Arabia continues to be one of the few country's in the world to impose the death penalty on child offenders. Despite all this, the US continues to find reasons to excuse the behaviour of Saudi Arabia, who happen to possess 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

No doubt news of the Saudi decision to send such a large amount in aid towards a Palestinian regime that the US has labelled "terrorist" will increase pressure on President Bush to distance himself from his Middle Eastern cohorts. However, I can confidently predict that President Bush will rise above such petty concerns and continue to strengthen the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia, who happen to possess 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

Indeed, as an example of the US's commitment to it's Saudi friends, I can cite that until recently, the US maintained a large military presence in Saudi Arabia - a sign of the commitment to peace and security shared by both nations - however, the 9-11 attacks and subsequent demands by Osama bin-Laden that the US withdraw it's forces from the region, forced the US to make an uncharacteristic retreat and remove it's military presence from the Arabian Gulf. We have been assured, however, that this removal of US forces from the region does not imply any cooling in the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia, who happen to control 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

So we can all breath easy and stop worrying about whether the Saudi's sponsoring of states that the US labels as "terrorist" will affect this important relationship. Likewise, any fears we may possess that the Saudi's refusal to allow any democratic representation for it's citizens, or the fact that it continues to murder children who commit crimes, can safely be put to one side.

There are, of course, some Liberal lefty cheese eating surrender monkeys who criticise this relationship and accuse the US of hypocrisy by continuing to deal with Saudi Arabia, who happen to possess 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

They can safely be dismissed as people who do not understand the bigger picture, and the US can continue to enjoy the support of it's Saudi friends in the War Against Terror and in our deep and heartfelt desire to spread freedom and democracy across the globe.

With the obvious exception of Saudi Arabia, who happen to possess 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

I mean, come on. We're realists, not soft hearted liberal scum.

Tags: Saudi Arabia, Palestine, aid, US, democracy, commitment, War on terror, Hamas,