Since September 11, when 19 hijackers inspired by the poisonous hatred of Saudi clerics and the Wahhabi doctrine of the House of Saud perpetrated the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil, the oil parasites of the Persian Gulf have spent millions of dollars trying to convince Americans to look away from Saudi funding of extremist madrassas, Saudi incitement in the mosques of Mecca and Medina, and continued Saudi funding of Hamas and other terrorist gangs: Saudis Spending to Improve Image in U.S. (Hat tip: Dar al Harb.)

The Saudi strategy to win the hearts and minds of American citizens and lawmakers is clear: spend large amounts on media advertising, book time with television’s news shows, lobby congressional leaders and monitor policies coming out of Washington.

The Saudis have hired three well-connected Washington lobbying and law firms to advance their case in the capital. One firm, paid $420,000 so far this year, is headed by former Rep. Thomas Loeffler, a top contributor to President Bush when Bush was governor of Texas and a major fund-raiser in Bush’s presidential campaigns.

Foreign Agent Registration Act filings reviewed by The Associated Press show that Loeffler and his wife contributed $8,000 this year to the re-election campaign of Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., a leading critic of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fight terrorism. The couple also sent $2,000 to the Bush campaign.

Lobbyists are required to report contributions they make while working for a foreign government, even when the contributions come from personal money. Saudi officials said Loeffler’s contributions were not made on behalf of the kingdom.

The Saudis also paid $456,000 last year to one of Washington’s best known law firms, Patton Boggs, to lobby on Capitol Hill. They paid the law firm Dutton & Dutton $625,000 to monitor congressional and administration policies regarding their country and the Middle East.

Most of the Saudi money — about $16 million — went for television, radio and print ads in the top 20 markets across the country. The ads, according to Saudi officials, were designed to impress upon the American people that Saudis really are allies against terror.

It isn’t working. But I do enjoy seeing them throw their money down the drain.