Lawrence Kaplan has an interesting piece in The New Republic on how the Saudis lobby Dubya. A teaser:

During his first months in office…W. defied expectations. Far from pressing the Israelis, the president enshrined in official policy his campaign pledge of unconditional support for Israel — a stance not particularly well received by Saudi Arabia’s potentates. As a result, Crown Prince Abdullah still has yet to accept a standing invitation from Bush to visit Washington. The president, then, has found himself in a bind: A staunch supporter of the Jewish state, his administration has nonetheless gone to excruciating lengths not to offend a regime that would prefer that state never existed.

Kaplan’s advice to the president? Follow his own instincts, because “[t]hey’ve certainly proved far superior to his father’s, not to mention the rogues whispering in his ear.”

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