Arab News, the official English language voice of the House of Saud, mocks President Bush’s visit to Iraq: Imperial Majesty.

I watched, as I am sure did most of you, the little skit set up for President Bush this Thanksgiving in Baghdad.

Gen. Sanchez and Ambassador Bremer hammed it up on stage like they do on late night talk shows, but instead of a dainty starlet trotting in to entertain the troops, accompanied by the inevitable baying and wolf whistles, lo and behold: It was George Bush who trotted in.

He had slunk in under heavy secrecy lest some enterprising Iraqi insurgents lob some donkey-borne rockets freedom’s way and thereby spoil the photo-op.

Then, after two and half “whole” hours, the president slunk back out of Iraq.

We are told that this shabby little sketch was meant to raise the morale of US troops in Iraq. If that is so, then their morale must really have hit rock bottom.

Now, dear readers, you mustn’t laugh at the Americans; remember they are our friends and allies.

The author, Amr Mohammed Al-Faisal, obviously thinks he’s being unbearably clever with the following passage:

The conditions that must be met before we lift a finger to help the Americans get out of Iraq honorably are the following:

* The adoption by the US of Crown Prince Abdullah’s peace plan as the center piece of US policy in the Middle East.

* The halt to the vicious campaign of hatred and lies propagated in the US against Saudi Arabia. Administration officials starting with President Bush himself must spare no occasion to praise Saudi Arabia and inform the American people how lucky they are to have us as allies.

* The release of all Saudis detained in the US or in Guantanmo Bay into Saudi custody.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and other things may be added. Once these conditions are met, we should spare no effort to help the Americans get out of the Iraqi quagmire.

And they call Americans “arrogant.”

Just another poke in the eye from the people who gave us September 11. Remember this when the time comes for payback.