By Ted Belman
In my article The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby, which I urge you to read again, I write,
.. the U.S. ambassador to Riyahd, James Akins, did his best to placate King Faisal by urging the Saudi’s American-owned oil concessionaire ARAMCO to, in Akin’s words, “hammer home” to the White House that the embargo (seventies) wouldn’t be lifted unless
“the political struggle [between Israel and the Arabs] is settled in [a] manner satisfactory to [the] Arabs.”
Prince Bandar told Bush
Starting today, you go your way and we will go our way. From then on, the Saudis would look out for their own national interests.
It seemed the United States had made a strategic decision to adopt Sharon’s policy as American policy.
Within thirty-six hours, Bandar was on his way to Riyadh with a conciliatory response from Bush. When Bandar returned Powell cornered him.
“What the f*ck are you doing?” witnesses recall Powell asking. “You’re putting the fear of God in everybody’s hearts here. We’ve all come rushing here to hear this revelation that you bring from Saudi Arabia. You scared the shit out of everybody.”
As a result of this power, I wrote Whatever Saudis Want, Saudis Get.
Is America over a barrel of oil? Definitely.
And what Saudis want is al Quds with the Temple Mount and the greenline and G-d knows what else.
