The bucolic photo of preznit Bush strolling hand in hand in the garden with the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah?

Why this obvious affection between two oil-men should certainly be enough to endear the US to the Arab word and hence bring us all world peace.

Physical intimacy has always been a bridge to world diplomacy. Why John Quincy Adams was accused of pandering to the Russian Czar and his ministers. We never went to war against Russia.

And diplomacy certainly didn't negate physical contact with Benjamin Franklin in his stint as Ambassador to France. After all, he exemplified the relations part of diplomatic relations when he is reputed to have said, "France is a gracious nation. The men met me with open arms, and the women with open legs."

It is touching to see our preznit carry on this physical tradition with the Saudiis.

Publius