We'd never associate with a guy like that

Every once in a while, a news story comes along that puts it all in perspective.

Kuwait bans F911

"We have a law that prohibits insulting friendly nations, and ties between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are special," Abdul-Aziz Bou Dastour, cinema and production supervisor at the information ministry, said.

Dastour said the film "insulted the Saudi royal family by saying they had common interests with the Bush family and that those interests contradicted with the interests of the American people"

So, let me get this straight. The movie is insulting to the Saudis by saying they had common interest with the Bush family, but not Bin Ladin? That pretty much says it all about the respect that Bush is getting in the region. Well played W, you're really taking away the terrorists' influence.

But the second half of that statement reveals the Kuwaitis hand. There's no reason for the Kuwaiti government to care whether or not the actions of the Saudis contradict the interests of the American people. They care about us as little as we care about them. This is just the Kuwaiti government pandering to the U.S. populace to help W's re-election. They've put their money on that horse, and can't turn back.

This situation is happening in other pockets of the region too. Musharraf delivered on Bush's request to announce a terrorist capture before Kerry's speech, and the Saudis continue to reveal that they are willing to help Bush keep oil prices down. What Americans need to decide though, is whether a President that only has unpopular dictators playing ball for him is really someone who can bring more democracy to that region.