Friends like these

Saudi Arabia | It may be an ally—for now—but a real friend doesn't act this way | Cal Thomas

The truth about our "friend and ally" Saudi Arabia was told last month in a briefing delivered to a Pentagon advisory panel. A Rand Corporation international security analyst told the panel that, "The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot-soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader.... Saudi Arabia supports our enemies and attacks our allies."

The Bush administration sought to distance itself from the report, but straight-talking Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to disagree with its findings. He merely called the leak "a terribly unprofessional thing to do." Mr. Rumsfeld said the briefing does not represent the "dominant opinion" in the U.S. government but, significantly, he did not reject its conclusions.