Money talks when Saudis visit Texas.( and Clinton w/ Saudis in TX, too )

[rainbow4321]

Ok..here's where all of our gas $ is going..describes the Saudi lavish trip in Big D..and in all the coverage of shrub and Cheney meeting w/ the Saudi group, did anyone read elsewhere that Clinton was down here, too?


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/050105dnintsaudi.62bf3164.html


One Mansion suite (which typically runs about $1,000 a night) housed the prince's wardrobe. Another Mansion guestroom was turned into a barbershop used exclusively for the shaving of the Saudi leader (one staff member's principal duty is to groom and dress the prince each day).

The delegation's bill for four nights at The Mansion might run to $500,000 or more depending on the rates negotiated by the Saudi government and the cost of additional services such as food and beverages.


The prince's meetings with top U.S. officials were no secret, but many were surprised when a black Chevrolet Suburban pulled into The Mansion's circular driveway at 1 p.m. Wednesday and out stepped former President Bill Clinton. He met privately with the crown prince. "They have been friends since 1992," Mr. al-Jubeir said. "We in Saudi Arabia believe friendship is a lifelong thing. President Clinton is looked on in our part of the world as a man who tried to accomplish what some people consider the impossible, which is the peace process" in the Middle East.

Before leaving The Mansion, Mr. Clinton met with another foreign dignitary. He sat with Saadeddine "Saad" Hariri, whose father, Rafik Hariri – a former prime minister of Lebanon – was killed in a Feb. 14 car bombing in Beirut. "President Clinton was very close to Prime Minister Hariri," said Jim Kennedy, director of communications for the former president, "and wished to offer his condolences to his son personally."