“Working alongside
another beloved leader – American President Franklin Roosevelt – King Abdulaziz
began the enduring partnership between our two countries”
True, but at whose expense?
Sir Martin Gilbert obtained information about Churchill’s meeting with King Abdulaziz by petitioning the British Prime Minister to allow him access to the archives which were supposed to be opened in 2045, when as Martin Gilbert put it , he would have been 9 years dead even if he lived to the age of 100. He was granted access. On February 17, 1945 on his way back from Yalta, Churchill stopped in Cairo and met Ibn Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia. Churchill was trying to persuade Ibn Saud to accept the creation of a Jewish state, but unfortunately for Churchill (and us) Roosevelt had already beaten him to it and promised Ibn Saud that he would do nothing to help the Jews. What is more, Roosevelt said nothing to Churchill who was there too.
“Later today, we will
make history again with the opening of a new Global Center for Combating
Extremist Ideology – located right here, in this central part of the Islamic
World”
Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology – how
does this differ from how Obama would have defined it?
“We are here to offer
partnership – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future
for us all.”
Which shared values?
