Obama Bows to Saudi Anti-Semitism while Snubbing Freedom of the Press

In a world where the American President is seen as weak and often wrongheaded in his foreign policy decisions, it should not come as a great surprise that the Saudi government is taking advantage of the lackluster fading star that is Barack Obama by refusing to allow the Jerusalem Post’s Washington bureau chief to cover President Obama's trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The White House Correspondents Association called the Saudi decision not to grant Michael Wilner a visa for the President's trip "outrageous." Wilner is purportedly the only member of the Washington press corps who has been denied a visa. The correspondents association said : "It is outrageous that the Saudi government has refused to allow a White House reporter entry to the country to cover this week’s visit of President Barack Obama. The denial is an affront not only to this journalist but to the entire White House press corps and to the principle of freedom of the press that we hold so dear." The Jerusalem Post also reported that the Saudis ignored "firmly worded requests" to grant the application, which were made by US National Security Advisor Susan Rice and presidential assistant Tony Blinken to Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. The Jerusalem Post added : “Rice and Blinken separately expressed extreme displeasure at the delay and the prospect of a denial.’’ The White House said it has complained about the denial separately : "We are deeply disappointed that this credible journalist was denied a visa,” said Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. “We will continue to register our serious concerns about this unfortunate decision." Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with Obama en route to Belgium on Tuesday, however, that the Saudi Arabian trip would not be reconsidered : "Look, we have disagreements with Saudi Arabia on a number of issues. We obviously have had disagreements in the past as it relates to some issues associated with Israel, some issues associated with human rights. But we also share a significant set of interests with Saudi Arabia. They’re a very important partner of ours in the Gulf, and we believe it's better to have the type of relationship where we can cooperate but also be clear and honest with one another where we have differences," Rhodes said. In an editorial, the Jewish Press accused the Saudis of 'plain old anti-Semitism.' Wilner, a Jewish American, works for the Israeli English-language newspaper but does not hold Israeli citizenship and has never lived in the Jewish state. Saudi Arabia has no official relationship with the government of Israel,’’ the editorial said. ~~~~~ So, dear readers, we have here *an American citizen who happens to be *a journalist who is *an accredited member of the White House Press Corps *who is travelling with the President and is being *denied a visa to enter Saudi Arabia, *one of the stops on President Obama's latest trip to the Middle East. And what has the American President done about this affront? His National Securtiy Advisor and her Deputy have protested, as has the White House. BUT, the trip is not being cancelled because Saudi Arabia is "a very important partner of ours in the Gulf..." May we assume from this explanation that America's relationship with Saudi Arabia is more important than taking a stand against anti-Semitism and for freedom of the press and in support of America's most loyal ally, Israel? Or could it be that President Obama wants to reassure the Saudi leaders that - even though America could now singlehandedly pull the plug on the lavish petrodollar lifestyle the Saudis have become accustomed to - he will keep this from happening by preventing the construction of the Keystone Pipeline and deep port CNG terminals and the beginning of renewed offshore drilling programs? OR - is it simply that Barack Obama has been practicing his bowing technique and doesn't want to lose the opportunity to make one last bow as America's President to the King of Saudi Arabia? What a horror show the Obama presidency has become.