If I were not an American citizen, I would be laughing daily at the foolishness of the typical Yank. As it is, I'm disgusted.

As the world undergoes a realignment of the geo-political power structure, the American population is instead star-struck over the latest celebrity gossip, enraptured with righteous rage over the expansion of domestic wedded bliss in California, and oblivious to their role in the ever-increasing cost of tootling around town in a raised Hummer pretending to be The Terminator on a mission from God herself.

One thing Americans are paying attention to, if for the wrong reasons, is the presidential mudslinging contest. The latest round was fired off by The Crawford Kid in Jerusalem while addressing the Israeli Knesset, prompting a passel of return fire from the Democratic candidates. Obama protested "George Bush knows I never got engaged to no terrorists" while Silly Hilly lobbed in a bundle of dynamite. She deemed Bush's remarks were "offensive and outrageous, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy." While the fuse on that bomb burns down, Hilly is holding off a flank attack by Bush pardner CNN while Gary Hart counts coup on John McCain over by the KO Korral.

As former Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen aide Brent Budowsky observes, "George Bush has learned nothing from his failures and disasters as commander in chief."

Ah, how true that is, and the truth is being demonstrated in Southwest Asia as I write this post!

George Bush is in Saudi Arabia seeking to round up a posse for his effort to prevent Iran from having a nuclear energy industry similar to the one he wants to sell to the Saudis. That's the carrot.

The stick? Ask Ahmed Chalabi, who has again lost his Most Favored Iraqi status over "unauthorized contacts" with Iran. This of course is of no nevermind to the Saudis, but the threat to block the sale of $1.4 billion in weapons - including 900 smart bomb guidance kits - is intended to smack that recalcitrant Wahabbi cayuse into compliance.

Tired of decades of not having their smoke signals warning about why the Palestinians are on the warpath read, the Saudis now advise that these reasons are why the Iranian tribes are growing restless on the no-nuke Western reservation.

But this attempt at warning doesn't make them treaty natives. As too many people don't remember, Sixteen of the 9-11 hijackers were Saudi nationals. That this fact about the nationality of the hijackers is true does not in itself indicate Saudi hostility, but would not national actions like not complying with requests for lower fuel costs when we are clearly (if foolishly) needy?