WP: Bush Chides U.S. Allies In Mideast

[kskiska]

Wednesday, June 30, 2004; Page A01

ISTANBUL, June 29 -- President Bush criticized unnamed U.S. allies in the Middle East for compromising with extremists and suppressing dissent and called on the Islamic world to move toward democracy as a way to safeguard the United States and reduce violence in the Middle East.

Speaking in front of a waterfront mosque, Bush said that leaders throughout the Middle East, "including some friends of the United States, must recognize the direction of the events of the day. Any nation that compromises with violent extremists only emboldens them and invites future violence.

"Suppressing dissent only increases radicalism. The long-term stability of any government depends on being open to change and responsive to citizens."

Bush did not specify which U.S. allies he was referring to, but an aide and outside experts said that Saudi Arabia was among them. Some U.S. officials have accused the kingdom's government of not working hard enough to suppress al Qaeda cells within its borders.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13881-2004Jun29.html

[meisje]

1. Bad Saudi Arabia! oh yeah, please don't cut off the oil!!!

[acmavm]

2. This guy is like a dog with rabies. He'll bite anything that moves.

I doubt that the rest of the planet is unaware of this fact.

What a delusional cretin. Pretty soon he'll have everyone one so pissed off he wont' even be able to blackmail or bribe them into complicity.

[funkybutt]

3. Yes! Saudi Arabia has been a bad bad boy...needs a spanking n/t

[ninkasi]

4. If he doesn't believe in suppressing dissent

then why is his administration so quick to do it? Between First Amendment Zones, telling people to watch what they say, and not letting anyone not a rabid supporter within several miles of him, he seems to do a pretty good job of censoring different opinions here. He's a Cheneying hypocrite.