Monday, January 14, 2008
In this report, "Bush Soaks in Dubai Culture in Mideast", Anne Gearan, the AP's "Diplomatic Writer", states that "Saudi Arabia [is] a key U.S. security ally and often the region's decision leader."
She repeats this clumsy phrase twice in the same report.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - President Bush gets a flavor of this cosmopolitan banking and business hub before heading to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. security ally and often the region's decision leader....
...Bush was departing the Gulf region later in the day for meetings in Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. security ally and often the region's decision leader.
This was published this morning in a number of news outlets from the Guardian to the Washington Post to the Duluth News Tribune without comment or correction. Our news, hot off the State Department press.
I question the spontaneity of this propaganda.
I'm curious what exactly is meant by "decision leader". It seems like one of those nonsensical phrases that either indicates nothing or something bad.
I think they're trying to imply that the Saudis (who most Arabs consider to be lazy, stupid hillbillies or 'parasite usurpers of the throne') are men of great respect in the Middle East.