Writes Pat Barnett from Sharjah, UAE: “George Bush came to my house today.
“Well, not exactly, but his appearance in neighbouring Dubai was too close for comfort. Local radio and tv broadcasts were interrupted for updates on roads and bridges that were closed and which backstreets were advisable to ensure heavy traffic vs stationary traffic. And that was the day before our esteemed leader arrived. The city finally gave up and declared a public holiday, closing all ministries, government departments, schools, and private companies.
“How did this impact the lavish parades and thousands of well-wishers and glorious cultural shows Dubai meticulously coordinates for venerable guests? Not at all, because there were none for Bush. There were only grumbles about snarled traffic and incalculable business losses in a city renowned for commerce. It’s also a city known for gracious hospitality. Ask Jimmy Carter, who has been welcomed more than once on private peacekeeping missions. The red carpets rolled out for George Bush were polite, but threadbare.
“ArabianBusiness reports that four-fifths of the Arabs polled think Bush has been an ‘abject failure’ in improving business and diplomatic relations between the US and the Middle East. As one who lives among Arabs, my advice to Mr. Bush is to load up Air Force One with beach property investment brochures and Persian carpets (before Iran gets bombed back to the Stone Age) for friends and family back home, and send those folks back over to do the same. Now that would do more to improve business and diplomatic relations between the US and this part of the Middle East than all the pompous posturing in Washington combined.”
8:33 am on January 14, 2008 Email Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
