Bush seeking ‘reform’
in Saudi Arabia

By Les Kinsolving

At today’s White House news briefing, WND asked presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer about blacks held in slavery in Africa and Americans held against their will in Saudi Arabia.

WND: Regarding the president’s forthcoming trip to Africa, there have been widespread reports of tens of thousands of blacks held in actual slavery today, with Newsweek publishing photographs of slaves in Mauritania, and the Baltimore Sun sending two writers to buy and free slaves in Sudan. When the Clintons visited the African nations adjacent to these slave countries, I can recall no report that either of them said anything about this enormous evil of black slavery today. And my question: President Bush will surely speak out about this slavery in Africa, won’t he, Ari?

FLEISCHER: As I indicated yesterday, the president, during this trip, will visit Goree Island, and the president will talk about –

WND: Slavery.

FLEISCHER: – the president will talk about slavery, he will talk about freedom, he will talk about democracy.

WND: An American woman, Sarah Saga, whose father kidnapped her in 1985 and took her to Saudi Arabia, spent 10 days in the U.S. consulate in Jeddah before escaping to the United States. She was fearful of her father and husband, whose permission, under Saudi law, she needed to leave Saudi Arabia. And my question: Am I correct in presuming that the president, as a compassionate leader, is deeply concerned about Ms. Saga and many other American women so held hostage, or will you leave us in doubt of the president’s concern by an evasion that bucks this question to the State Department?

FLEISCHER: Lester, there are agencies that are responsible for having the specific information about specific cases.
WND: But I want to know what the president thinks.

FLEISCHER: The president believes that the best way to serve the country is to have the experts review individual cases. As a broad matter, the president is working very closely with Saudi authorities to encourage additional reform within Saudi Arabia. As for any specific case, it’s not a buck; it’s the direct answer. You need to talk to the people immediately responsible for the specifics.

WND: Thank you, Ari. That’s good.

FLEISCHER: Thank you, Lester, for your evaluations. (Laughter.)

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Les Kinsolving

Les Kinsolving hosts a daily talk show for WCBM in Baltimore. His radio commentaries are syndicated nationally. His show can be heard on the Internet 9-11 p.m. Eastern each weekday. Before going into broadcasting, Kinsolving was a newspaper reporter and columnist – twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his commentary. Kinsolving's maverick reporting style is chronicled in a book written by his daughter, Kathleen Kinsolving, titled, "Gadfly." Read more of Les Kinsolving's articles here.


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