Why Not Saudi Arabia?

Rich Lowry asks the question today, that many have asked, on the left and the right. Most of the September 11th Hi-Jackers were from Saudi Arabia, as is Osama bin Ladin. And yet we seem comfortable giving them the pass, rather than putting serious pressure on them to reform their ways.

Mr. Lowry explains this discrepency by pointing to a very successful Saudi Arabian foreign policy. "Saudi flack Prince Bandar has extensive personal relationships with top Washington policy-makers -- he used to play racquetball with Colin Powell -- and knows the way to official Washington's heart: cash. The Saudis make a practice, for instance, of buying former U.S. ambassadors to Saudi Arabia. "If the reputation then builds that the Saudis take care of friends when they leave office," Bandar once said, "you'd be surprised how much better friends you have who are just coming into office."

So, when a terrorist conspiracy with Saudi links murders 3,000 Americans, the Saudis are treated very gently. Coddling the Saudis has become an ingrained Washington habit."

He suggests that Democrats take the offensive on this issue; that making an issue out of Saudi Arabia would be their duty as the opposition party, and would be a patriotic thing to do as well. A public service, as it were.