Earlier this month we talked about the late-June visit of King Abdullah to Washington for meetings with President Obama and American officials ["Obama and Abdullah Engaging in Quiet Diplomacy?"] following the G-20 Summit in Toronto. That post pointed to an Arab News editorial which peered behind the usual post-meeting PR. A postscript to the reporting on the summit appeared in VOAnews this week with “U.S. And Saudi Arabia Old Friends” that mentions:
“The 2 men discussed the security problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan, stated their strong support for the efforts of the P5+1 with regard to Iran’s nuclear program, and urged Iran to meet its international obligations under UN Security Council and IAEA resolutions. They expressed their hope that proximity talks between Israelis and Palestinians will result in 2 states living side-by-side in peace and security, and reaffirmed the importance of efforts to prevent violent extremism.”
The article pointed out that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia “cooperate extensively on health issues, education, support of civil society, and increasing bilateral trade and investment,” and recounted hallmarks in the the history of the relationship:
“‘Since that historic meeting that took place 65 years ago between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and His Majesty’s father, King Abdul-Aziz, we have had a strong and strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia,’ said President Obama in joint remarks with King Abdullah.”
“‘We will continue to work together,’ said President Obama, ‘to expand the people-to-people contacts, the educational programs, the commercial ties, the business people who are working together in both countries so that not only do our governments remain strong partners but our people are continually enriching both countries.’”
With respects to Simon and Garfunkel, and pardon the aside, but the VOAnews article title, “..Old Friends,” reminded us of the lyrics from one of their best works:
Old friends, old friends sat on their parkbench like bookends
A newspaper blowin’ through the grass
Falls on the round toes of the high shoes of the old friendsOld friends, winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sun
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settles like dust on the shoulders of the old friendsCan you imagine us years from today, sharing a parkbench quietly
How terribly strange to be seventyOld friends, memory brushes the same years, silently sharing the same fears
