Press Review. Bush to Blair: 'let's attack Saudi Arabia'

[CatWoman]

Several stories (somewhat unrelated) today in this diary - several of them gathered in Fran's invaluable European Breakfast thread, available every day on the European Tribune. I have naturally chosen the most sensonalist diary title, but I hope you'll read and comment on the rest as well...


Bush told Blair of 'going beyond Iraq'

George Bush told Tony Blair shortly before the invasion of Iraq that he intended to target other countries, including Saudi Arabia, which, he implied, planned to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/15/92928/073

[electropop]

1. Half of the Bush-Laden family is in Saudi Arabia.

This rumor is not credible.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. The 'rumour' is fairly well sourced

Two months before the invasion of Iraq, US President George W. Bush told British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he “wanted to go beyond Iraq in dealing with WMD proliferation, mentioning in particular Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea and Pakistan,” according to notes taken by a Blair advisers, cited in a new book.

Bush’s comment, in a telephone conversation on January 30, 2003, could be significant because it appeared to add Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—both close US allies—to a list that previously had included public mentions only of Iraq, Iran and North Korea.

The comment is reported in an American edition of Lawless World, by Philippe Sands, a professor at University College, London. The notes taken by Blair’s then private secretary Matthew Rycroft and addressed to Simon McDonald, then principal private secretary to Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw.

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=80077

[unblock]

4. shrub would sell his own mother for a barrel of oil

[pauldp]

2. That's got to be bullsh*t.

When have the Bushes EVER done anything but enable the House of Saud and the Bin Laden Family to do whatever they want?

[unblock]

5. the relationship probably is not one of deep meaningful trust

the bushes and the house of saud are a partnership of mutual convenience, but it's all about business and all about oil. if the shrubbies thought they could eliminate the saudis any gain direct access to all the oil, of course they would do it.

that doesn't mean there's any truth to the rumor, or that they'd be stupid enough to let such plans become public. i'm just saying that it's not unbelievable that they may harbor such ambitions.

[Karmakaze]

6. Or perhaps Bush merely told Blair that...

to counter any objections he may have had. For example it is clear that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have far more ties to terrorists than Iraq. By saying Iraq was only a first step on the way to those other nations he gave Blair an out, a way to go along with an otherwise obviously illegal war.

[KansDem]

7. That's ridiculous! Bush attacking Saudi Arabia would be a lot like..

Knucklehead Smiff attacking Paul Winchell...

[CatWoman]

8. LOLOLOLOLOL

What a blast from the past :D

[converted_democrat]

9. That can't be right, can it???......

I thought the BFEE and the Saudis were best of pals. Attacking SA would be a dumb ass idea for anyone to contemplate considering they have their setup to self destruct if there is any attack.
This couldn't happen right? I could believe him having aims on Syria, Iran, but this?