George of Arabia ---pix--->>>

[Stephanie]

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/photos_pl_afp/e18429e539405669aed57319d052ddd8/

The motorcade of President George W. Bush makes his way through the desert for a traditional dinner with
members of the Emirati ruling family outside Abu Dhab. Bush was heading to regional powerhouse and close
ally Saudi Arabia to rally support for his Middle East peace drive and his campaign to isolate archfoe Iran.
(AFP/Mandel Ngan)



http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/photos_wl_afp/5894cb6c336b858cc354e04e889dd033/


http: //news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080113/ids_photos_india_wl/ra3189295499.jpg/



http: //news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080113/ids_photos_india_wl/ra3038731005.jpg/


http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/photos_pl_afp/2552b11021af1a116224c8dbeb659a13/


http: //news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080113/ids_photos_wl/r156120428.jpg/


http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080113/photos_wl_me_afp/56d66d27a390a1f9e6fc6730ad30c2b7/


US President George W. Bush tries a piece of bread with Emirati Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister
and ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (R) ahead of a traditional dinner in the
desert at the Royal Stables of the Al-Asayel Racing and Equestrian Club in Suwaihan, some 30 Kms outside Abu Dhabi.
Bush warned Gulf Arab allies on Sunday of the threat from their neighbour Iran and called for their support of
Washington's policy goals in the Middle East.
(AFP/Mandel Ngan)



http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/481/8e9c9c9ba373471d93faf47a25b08a60/


http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/481/83cf33eb6cf940ebac7cec384027b73a/

US President George W. Bush, left, walks with Saudi King Abdallah, right, during his arrival at Royal Terminal
King Khalid International Airport, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)




http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/481/033dc62506b24c5ab184a99ab941e884/


http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080114/481/def14f2af96c4e439e31b60618f9489c/

US President George W. Bush, second from the right, shakes hands during a receiving line as Saudi King Abdallah ,
far right watches at the King Khalid International Airport, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

[DS1]

1. I am stunned that they allowed this

It really tells you something about where Bush feels protected. I doubt they'd do anything like this in our own desert these days.

[liberal N proud]

2. Really

Wide open targets.

[DS1]

3. There was no doubt a handful of AC130 circling, a few squadrons of Apaches

and so forth. Still. That's quite the sight.

[Dhalgren]

4. You are right. Didn't any of his SS guys see "Syriana"?

That is really telling, isn't it - that his handlers would agree to this type of travel?

[Solly Mack]

6. That's it! Thank you!

Also, look how comfortable he is in the other pictures. He's positively happy looking..admiring even..of the bird. And very comfortable with women kneeling to prepare him a meal. He's "at home" with it all.

[babylonsister]

7. Perhaps the $20 billion arms sale to SA made him feel comfortable,

or it could have been the 10,000 strong security contingent he supposedly has for this trip.


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011308C.shtml


White House Times Arms Sale, Bush Trip
By Matthew Lee
The Associated Press

Saturday 12 January 2008


Washington - The Bush administration will notify Congress on Monday of its intent to sell $20 billion in weapons, including precision-guided bombs, to Saudi Arabia, moving up the announcement to coincide with the president's arrival in Riyadh, The Associated Press has learned.

Despite concern about the deal from some lawmakers, the State Department, which last month said it would delay the notification until after Congress comes back into session, will announce the proposed sale on Jan. 14, a day before the House returns to work and more than a week before senators return to Washington, said a senior official.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations on the matter.

The official said the new timing was "appropriate" and "symbolic" as it would come within hours of Bush's arrival in Saudi Arabia, the penultimate stop on his current Middle East trip. Air Force One is scheduled to land in Riyadh on Monday after a stop in Dubai.

The official announcement will kick off a 30-day review period during which lawmakers could move to block the sale.

Faced with congressional unease and requests from senior lawmakers for more time to review the sale, the administration agreed in December to put back the notification until Congress returns to session this month.

Although the new House session does not officially begin until Jan. 15 and senators do not return until Jan. 22, Senate Democrats have been briefly opening and closing the body each day during its holiday break, meaning the upper house remains technically at work.

The sale is a key element in the U.S. strategy to bolster the defenses of its Arab allies in Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing majority Sunni Muslim Gulf nations against threats from Shiite Iran.

A main aim of Bush's Mideast visit is to convince the Saudi leadership as well as those in Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates that he remains committed to preventing Iran from destabilizing the region, despite U.S. intelligence findings that Tehran halted its nuclear weapons development in 2003.

Although administration has staunchly defended the sale as critical to U.S. interests, its desire to sell Saudi Arabia sophisticated weaponry has raised eyebrows from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who say the transfer of Joint Direct Attack Munitions technology would lend it highly accurate targeting abilities that could threaten Israel.

Those concerns have not been assuaged by the administration's plan to counterbalance the Saudi sale with $30 billion in military assistance to Israel - a more than 25 percent increase over the next 10 years - and statements from Israeli officials who say they understand the rationale for the sale and will not oppose it.

In a letter to Bush sent last fall after plans for the sale first became public, 186 House members expressed serious reservations about the plan and at least one, Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., has said he plans to introduce a resolution to block the sale. His resolution has nearly three dozen co-sponsors.

[Stephanie]

9. 10,000 in security for the Crawford Coward?

How many troops will die in Iraq because their comrades were busy elsewhere protecting the Coward-in-Chief?

[babylonsister]

12. I will look for a link, but yes, I've read (and posted) that he had

10,000 security personnel in attendance for this little trip. Seems he might be a bit paranoid?
And I don't know about the composition; Blackwater is always an option.

[MilesColtrane]

19. 20 billion in weapons in exchange for no action from Abdullah when the Iranian War begins?

[Stephanie]

21. Yes.

They're not making much of a secret of it. When will the candidates address this?

[MilesColtrane]

14. Are those antennas or anti-aircraft guns sticking up?

[DS1]

20. Antennae

most likely with ground-to-air and satellite communications

[madokie]

5. you know there is one scared puppy right here by the name of w

[lpbk2713]

11. His Secret Service detail must feel lower than whale shit.

... knowing they are expected to take a bullet meant for AWOL Monkey-Boy's worthless ass.

[madokie]

22. I hadn't thought of that but you are right

I sure wouldn't want the job in this case

[trumad]

26. That photo reminds me of the scene in Syrianna.

[LizW]

29. Yep.

And I'm not going to say any more than that.

[sam sarrha]

8. Arabs give Bu$h the Bird...

[shain from kane]

10. Bush* with his chickenhawk.

[kineneb]

31. and bird is thinking "if I aim just right, I can cover him with poop."

birds are a lot smarter than we think. Poor feathered friend probably wishes he/she could be far, far away from the Shrubster.

...my pet chicken rules the roost...I am "bringer of food and water"

[UTUSN]

13. Caption: "Wha do y'all wear under your dresses?"

Naw. On second thought, he's been under those robes for years.

[AngryOldDem]

17. Looks like he's flipping someone off

He makes me so proud.

:sarcasm:

[MilesColtrane]

23. A scene from "Chickenheart" starring George W. Bush.

"Yup, fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dyin' in yer beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR OIL!"

[Kindigger]

15. What a pig

Once again * shows his manners in picture seven. Eating bread while talking, and spitting it all over that guy.

[MoonRiver]

16. George admiring bird brain:

"If only I had one of those."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. "Don't show this here pheasant to Dick, he goes wild when he see's 'em."

[shain from kane]

24. Guarding against the assassination attempt from Ali's Koran Depository and/or the sandy knoll.

[balantz]

25. I see in one photo that Dubya is collecting blankets and rugs for the poor folk back home.

[MilesColtrane]

27. I just noticed the Vampier Condoleeza walking dutifully behind Bush in pic #4.

I wonder where Laura is?

I guess her chain smoking would have offended the men over there.

[uppityperson]

28. How much blue shirt stock does he own? nt

[GrpCaptMandrake]

30. Yet another

"Gawlee, Mr. Sheek, you use yore tongue purtier than a 20-dollar whore!"

[Stephanie]

33. Nice one!

he sure is enjoying himself.

[shain from kane]

32. "Welcome to the pig roast, Mr. President."

[mogster]

34. I ask you: who would you rather have for president; this cold heartless hawk

or the bird?