David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, the Saudis drive me nuts. They drive me to absolute distraction. I think they have a spectacular record of…”

“Mr. Chairman, the Saudis drive me nuts. They drive me to absolute distraction. I think they have a spectacular record of being disingenuous. I think they have played both sides of so many issues that I run out fingers counting them through the years, and I think that they have been incredibly gutless and obsequious in dealing with the terrorist threat, and they have allowed these right wing fundamentalist schools to poison the minds of thousands and thousands of children against the West, in general, and certainly against Israel. I have very little confidence in virtually anything that the Saudi Government says. I want to be very clear about that. I visited their country a number of times, but the issue tonight is not whether or not we like the Saudis. The issue is whether or not this amendment at this time will assist or hinder the administration in its efforts to seek peace in the Middle East and to pursue a tough war against terrorists.”