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November 21, 2003 Special Dispatch No. 613

Saudi Daily Newspaper Mocks President Bush: 'May Get Killed for the Heck of It'

November 21, 2003
Saudi Arabia | Special Dispatch No. 613

On November 19, 2003 the Saudi Gazette issued a series [1] of articles [2] by Ramzi Khoury, advisor to the editor-in-chief of the paper. One of his articles argues that "it is not bin Laden's style of terrorism that poses a danger on the life of the President of the United States of America but bilateral issues that remain hanging for centuries [between the U.S. and the U.K." Khoury further explains why "it is appropriate to go back to history to understand why people may want to kill the visitor [i.e. President Bush]." The following [3] is one of the articles:

"But why is George Bush Junior in such danger that big security measures are necessary? Select the right answer and win the right to declare your own constitution:

"1. The business people want to be compensated for all the tea dumped in the sea and in the current situation of the British economy, they will kill for a buck.

"2. The environmentalists are angry at introducing caffeine into the Marine life environment. Blowing up people for the sake of animals has been recorded in the past. In their opinion Bush must pay the price.

"3. The English cannot understand why a traitor to the Throne would be allowed to stand before the British government and instead of getting arrested for high treason, he is allowed to dictate policy to a British Prime Minister who willingly takes his orders and [abides] by them at the expense of his own popularity amongst his people; those who stuck it out and never immigrated from Britain enduring the worse of consequences, such as Prince Charles and Camella [sic].

"4. Israel, famous for assassinating politicians, civilians, anyone at any age, may kill Bush in case Blair explains to him the similarities between how America made history and how the Palestinians are making it today.

"5. America today is seen as a traitor to the principles it was founded on because of its aggressive foreign policy that promotes the loss of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness worldwide, especially amongst Arabs who have never been so unhappy in history.

"6. He may get killed for the heck of it."


[1] The articles appeared online titled as "Learn from History - Why Bush's Life is in Danger," and "Contest," respectively. The "printer friendly" versions carried the additional heading, "Satire."

[2] Saudi Gazette, November 19, 2003; http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/sgazette/Data/2003/11/19/art_48165.xml

[3] Saudi Gazette, November 19, 2003; http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/sgazette/Data/2003/11/19/art_48164.xml

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