Is Bush Planning to "Subcontract" Torture to Saudis?

As they say: Birds of a feather...The Bush administration (not to mention the Bush family) and the Saudi elite have been thick as thieves from the start. After 9/11, Bush protected his Saudi pals and went after Afghanistan, even though the attack was staged and executed largely by Saudis. We also know that, like Bush, the Saudis condone and promote the use of torture. Now this week, as Bush publicly proclaims that he wants to change his position on terrorism, even claiming that the government will now prohibit any use of physical or emotional torture, he is hosting the new ambassador to the US from Saudi Arabia. The ambassador, Prince Turki al-Faisal (a Bush family friend) makes it plain that the Saudis will not be changing their ruthless approach any time soon. So it would not be surprising to discover that the Saudis are being put in charge of the Bush torture detail. Far more believable than the idea that Bush, Cheney, et al. have really changed their ways. What is especially amusing about this article is the Bush-like way the Saudi envoy indignantly denies allegations that any Saudi would EVER engage in terrorism!

from Agence-France Presse:

Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to the United States on Tuesday denounced terrorism as the world's biggest threat and vowed his government would show "no mercy" in rooting out "evil cults".

"Terrorism has become the biggest single threat to international peace and stability," Prince Turki al-Faisal said in an opening address at a Middle East Institute conference in Washington.

"Al-Qaeda, and other groups like it... are evil cults with a political terrorist agenda.

"The actions of these cults are condemned by all rational individuals and governments; by people of every colour, creed and persuasion; from north to south and from east to west," he said.

Referring to allegations that terrorism sprang from and is, or has been, supported by Saudi Arabia, the prince said: "That is absolutely not true.

"We have suffered as a result of terrorism. We do not support them. We do not fund them. These terrorists are as much against us as they are against you."

He called the fact that 15 of the 19 people involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US were Saudi citizens "a scar on our history".

"But these deviants do not represent Saudis or the Islamic faith," he said.

"We in Saudi Arabia are committed to this fight... We will show no mercy to those who kill the innocent.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1541075,00050001.htm

State Dept. Cites Saudi Arabia on Rights —The State Department, Tue Nov 8 23:35