Temporary Archive: Suzanne Brockmann's Message Board

Personally, I think it’s a mistake. We as a country tend to make poor choices regarding our allies that require us to go in years later and clean up the mess. We’re responsible for putting Saddam and Noriega, as well as various others, in power and now are reaping the rewards of those actions. At that time those might have seemed like viable options but they were very shortsighted. I believe that’s what’s happening now.

Elder Pres Bush always considered the Saudis our allies and made a public service announcement shortly after 9/11 saying so. He was trying to diffuse any possible retaliation or vigilantism against Saudis in the U.S.

Since 9/11 we’ve been drawing down our troops and presence in Saudi Arabia. I hope the current Pres. Bush is not trying to smooth ruffled feathers by this business proposal, and subsequently jeopardizing our security. What’s to say in five or ten years they are no longer our allies? How do we rectify that situation and rush to secure our ports from the very people who were securing them?

Arab mentality dictates that loyalty lies with other Arabs first. From there, they respect only money and power. Without those three, there is no bargaining.

With so many American companies struggling, the administration should be looking at U.S. based businesses first and foremost.

For me it’s black and white: I don’t believe any country should be in charge of our security. We need to be in charge of our own destiny.