Saudi King Cancels France Visit, Second Class African Leaders, Madame Defarge………
Saudi media report that King Abdullah has decided to cancel his July visit to Paris and participation in the Bastille Day celebrations. One official noted that the visit was canceled rather than postponed, which means that major Saudi cultural exhibitions in France, including one in the Louvre, may be in question. According to one Saudi outlet, the king sees no reason to join many African heads of state in France who have also been invited since these leaders represent a “second class” international group that do not benefit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its national plans, or its” prominent international standing” (wtf all this means).
This comes just days after major French daily Le Figaro quoted high French officials that King Abdullah had said something about wiping Iran and Israel off the map. The Saudis deny this allegation. This cancelation is almost certainly an angry Saudi reaction to the French leak to the media. It is possible that the Saudis are angry because the French could not stop the publication of the report (some of them don’t seem to understand that French media cannot be muzzled, anymore than a Frenchman or woman can be muzzled). Or maybe because the French cannot bring themselves to flog the offending reporter and his editor.
But all this may be okay: kings never feel comfortable celebrating Bastille Day and they are always n the lookout for a Madame Defarge.
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email
Comments