The "uniter" strikes again

[NNN0LHI]

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin are seen during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003. Abdullah arrived on the first visit to post-Soviet Russia by a Saudi leader, aimed at strengthening Moscow's ties with the Arab world, coordinating oil exports and soothing Russian concerns about alleged funding of Chechen rebels by Saudi charities. (AP Photo/Viktor Korotayev, pool)

Doesn't it just tug at your heartstrings to see Americas enemies getting along so well? How many of those hijackers on 9/11 came from Saudi Arabia again? I think it was about 15 of them. Wasn't it?

Don

[mmm]

1. looks like they are getting along swimmingly

Time will tell if Putin the chessmaster occupies the
Saudi base so conveniently built with US dollars.
That would be quite interesting.

[Clete]

2. If that happens, blame Bush, not the Saudis.

He let it happen on his watch. The Saudis and Russians are grabbing the opportunity in their self-interest of course, but the real blame goes to Bush. Sorry, Mr. pResident, but the buck really does stop on your seldom occupied desk.

[NNN0LHI]

3. One kick for the evening crowd n/t

[maggrwaggr]

4. I thought the Russians had their own oil.

Seriously, don't they? I thought they were the world's largest producer of crude.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Looky here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3099445,00.html

Russia, Saudi Arabia Sign Oil Agreements

Tuesday September 2, 2003 7:59 PM

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia and Saudi Arabia - the world's largest oil exporters - signed oil industry cooperation agreements Tuesday during a landmark visit to Moscow by the Arab kingdom's ruler.

The two sides also were expected to take up the sensitive question of whether rebels in the secessionist republic of Chechnya receive funding from Saudi charities.

Crown Prince Abdullah, who met with President Vladimir Putin, is the first Saudi head of state to visit post-Soviet Russia. A Saudi crown prince last visited in 1932.

``This day will go down in history as it opens a new era in the Saudi-Russian relations,'' the prince said during talks with Putin and other officials.

more

[SoCalDem]

6. Ooooh.. I see Vladdie's soul, too

Vladdie got him some OIL.. WTG *

[David Zephyr]

7. Bush One's New World Order.

Yep.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. ever seen ted rall's cartoon

of the trade center being hit with a caption coming from the white house reading "gee, i hope this doesn't ruin our relationship with the saudis"

[htuttle]

9. Putin has been playing an expert foreign affairs game

He's been taking advantage of the vacuums created by Bush's adventurism (and utter 'denseness').

Putin signed several important new treaties with China, India, and now Saudi Arabia (and frankly, this one took me by surprise), since 1/20/2001.

Will Putin be able to parlay this new relationship with Saudi Arabia into a solution to the Chechnyan war? He's certainly going to be able to influence keeping the price of oil high (as they need in Russia). I wonder if he can get even more out of it?

No doubt, the Saudis might find it refreshing to deal with someone who has picked up a book or two in his life...