A Consent of Silence WITH THIS KIND of rot, you’d think that every map in official Washington would have a red flag planted on the dot labeled “Riyadh” to remind the bureaucrats that Saudi Arabia is on life support. The truth is just the opposite. As I write this in early 2003, Washington still continues to insist that Saudi Arabia is a stable country, that its central government is in undisputed control of its borders; its police and army are efficient and loyal; and its people are well clothed, fed, and educated. Let’s start with the State Department. It is more responsible than any other government bureaucracy in Washington for spreading the big lie about the kingdom. To listen to Foggy Bottom’s spin, you would think Saudi Arabia was Denmark. Just look at the way it handled visas for Saudis. By law, the State Department has overseas responsibility for visas; it issues them in our embassies and consulates.
