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Don't forget the media

Reader comment on item: What Riyadh Buys [in Washington]

Submitted by Mark Kaye (United States), Dec 13, 2002 at 20:13

While Mr. Pipes' article focuses on former public officials who are on the Saudi payroll, why not take a look at members of the media who take Saudi money even while positioning themselves as independent commentators? One need look no further than ... Robert Novak.

Just this past Sunday, on a program no less laudable than "Meet the Press," Mr. Novak stated that "what this (the United States' involvement in regime change in Iraq) is all about is change of the political outlines of the Middle East more to Israel's benefit" and that since that type of thing would be very difficult to "sell to the American public, they (the Bush Administration) have done it on a weapons of mass destruction basis." In sum and substance, Mr. Novak is saying that the basis of the United States' challenge to the Hussein dictatorship in Iraq, and its efforts to stabilize the Persian Gulf, is in reality an effort to do Israel's bidding.

Mr. Novak goes on to state that since it is "very hard to find the proof of a nuclear development ... it behoves [the Bush Administration] to say that they (the Iraqis) are hiding things." He then proceeds to belittle the Admistration's efforts to find that proof -- comparing it to pornography, where its all in the eye of the beholder and one would know it when one sees it.

What an outrage! Just who does Robert Novak work for, the Chicago Sun-Times or the Iraqi Ministry of Information?

Someone should find out.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (88) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
American human rights activist illegally arrested in Kuwait. [1271 words]John LockeOct 11, 2005 00:4526776
Rubbish [82 words]Ex co-workerJul 7, 2007 14:4826776
Inquiry [82 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Ed MelikAug 29, 2005 01:5725165
What Riyadh Buys [in Washington] [1252 words]Ed MelikAug 29, 2005 01:5225164
Why we can't pull out of Iraq even if we want to? [890 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Aug 19, 2005 08:4124898
Terrorism Kuwaiti style. [1611 words]Ed Melik, KuwaitJan 21, 2005 04:4119797
honestly [190 words]HammadNov 3, 2008 00:3219797
simple reply [132 words]Abdul-Ghaphor M. HajjiehJul 31, 2009 05:2319797
1Corruption in the US Embassy, Kuwait [834 words]Ed Melik, KuwaitJan 10, 2005 12:0719564
A COMMUNIST CURSES THE DARKNESS [208 words]ABUTOMJul 30, 2006 10:4719564
Wow, you've made some serious accusations [103 words]JeffMar 9, 2007 06:1819564
1We expected America to save and preserve this fine world [97 words]LaxmanOct 8, 2004 14:5217562
United Saudi States of America [221 words]IJan 29, 2003 01:426082
saudi buying us slaves [38 words]nathan serlinDec 20, 2002 11:234989
1The problem starts at the Top. [110 words]Jon WDec 18, 2002 20:004854
Let's contact our congressmen and women! [35 words]DianaDec 17, 2002 13:504697
pay for congress [88 words]Elizabeth GouldApr 8, 2011 18:324697
Did Riyadh buy the INS too? [37 words]Rachel NeuwirthDec 16, 2002 21:014647
1Could it be that this is just the tip of the ICEBERG?? [259 words]RM PaineDec 16, 2002 04:274642
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An illusion of a war on terror [93 words]J.ShearerDec 15, 2002 17:104637
Doubtful? [81 words]Tino ZahediDec 15, 2002 16:214636
1Idi Amin [50 words]Michael E. AllisonDec 15, 2002 15:564635
They're good! [28 words]Joshua ScholarDec 15, 2002 12:254634
What does Kissinger have to hide? [40 words]Keith O'DellDec 14, 2002 21:494629
To commenter Alan Linden. Check the facts. [326 words]Ron McGail, PhdDec 14, 2002 20:144628
2Culture of " bakshish" in the Arab world [204 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Ron McGail, PhdDec 14, 2002 18:164625
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I endorse Karsten Brasch's view point. [133 words]Hari IyerDec 14, 2002 14:434616
Free minds value the truth [139 words]Edward ClineDec 14, 2002 11:174613
Profs don't often need money. [92 words]A. J.Dec 14, 2002 03:314609
One possible method to curb Saudi intolerance [118 words]Karsten BraschDec 14, 2002 01:234606
Finally Explained [57 words]Roger HomefieldDec 13, 2002 21:344603
Don't forget the media [251 words]Mark KayeDec 13, 2002 20:134601
Disgusted [150 words]B. FureyDec 13, 2002 19:574600
Good to note Hume Horan [182 words]BrendaDec 13, 2002 16:474598
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Privilege often corrupts [185 words]LindaDec 13, 2002 15:084594
Let's (bank)roll [90 words]MarkDec 13, 2002 14:334590
Typical but infuriating nonetheless [8 words]Len StecklerDec 13, 2002 13:204588
Thanks for your work [47 words]Galen WoodsDec 13, 2002 13:194587
With friends like these... [84 words]Arlene SwartzmanDec 13, 2002 11:514585
Department Of State [28 words]Warren HarropDec 13, 2002 10:344584
Everyone loves to hate the State Department! [50 words]JeffMar 9, 2007 06:224584
The Saudis aren't the only ones buying Washington [80 words]David MontyDec 13, 2002 09:314581
1Saudi Arabia is the leading terrorist country in the world [60 words]F. ShawkiDec 13, 2002 07:514580
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Expose on Saudi favors to American officials must continue [55 words]David SchoenDec 12, 2002 21:584574
1Sucking up to the Saudis [81 words]Dave BastyrDec 12, 2002 20:274573
freedom of speech [33 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
hansjanFeb 13, 2006 17:584573
seven million developing [70 words]LouisaFeb 21, 2009 17:284573
You scratch mine, I scratch yours [109 words]Carey E. StronachDec 12, 2002 19:194572
1University staffs [45 words]JaninDec 12, 2002 18:304571
Oil supply: what about Russian oil? [37 words]Ted BellDec 12, 2002 17:514570
To commenter Rick Ragland, what's your price for oil? [56 words]Don CarlinDec 12, 2002 17:474569
2US Embassy treats Americans poorly [130 words]Don CarlinDec 12, 2002 17:434568
Backscratching [76 words]Becky McClainDec 12, 2002 15:594567
1Money is a power. [226 words]SheerahkahnDec 12, 2002 14:464566
Arab Money and Jimmy Carter [12 words]David NeubartDec 12, 2002 13:124564
2Foundational Erosion [381 words]Noel LeerskovDec 12, 2002 13:034563
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1Saudi Arabia's influence: on US campuses too? [48 words]Carolyn HathawayDec 12, 2002 11:524561
The "Loophole Syndrome" [53 words]Ken HarrisDec 12, 2002 11:164560
Saudi money to former officials [156 words]Brian KheelDec 12, 2002 11:014558
Who can expose the depth of corruption? [101 words]Howard NewmanDec 12, 2002 09:524555
Corruption in KSA [147 words]Edward WhitedDec 12, 2002 09:514554
1Saudi Money and the United States [247 words]Arlinda DeAngelisDec 12, 2002 09:174553
what can we do? [99 words]Samy MikhailDec 12, 2002 09:134552
Saudi buying influence in the Executive branch [102 words]Tom WaldeckDec 12, 2002 08:344550
Selling America [28 words]Lawrence L. SmithDec 12, 2002 06:244547
Oiled Palms [152 words]Dennis SpainDec 12, 2002 02:184543
Mark [2 words]Thank YouApr 17, 2007 14:304543
Mark [2 words]Thank YouApr 18, 2007 11:534543
Thank You [2 words]AlexMay 24, 2007 20:164543
Thank You [2 words]AlexJun 10, 2007 06:244543
Let the light shine in [97 words]B. MurgatroydDec 11, 2002 20:154540
This is the best explanation yet [47 words]Robert HanzDec 11, 2002 19:234539
1Revisiting The Arabists [90 words]Linda Staitz CookeDec 11, 2002 15:564536
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Interesting Analysis [229 words]StephenDec 11, 2002 13:344534
Officials should display sponsors like race car drivers... [87 words]John SchaeferDec 11, 2002 13:154533
To commenter Alan Linden [63 words]David CohenDec 11, 2002 12:494530
Interesting [36 words]Alan LindenDec 11, 2002 12:044527
Filthy Lucre [150 words]Jack AjzenbergDec 11, 2002 10:444522
What the U.S. gets in return [93 words]Rick RaglandDec 11, 2002 10:394521
Traitors in our midst [124 words]Glenn KlotzDec 11, 2002 09:384519
Go somewhere else for oil shopping! [144 words]Ghaly ShafikDec 11, 2002 09:304518
Pre-emptive bribing [52 words]Jeff BercovitchDec 11, 2002 07:404516

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