i wanted to turn backk to rashid khalidi.ou talked about some gulf states perhaps supporting the president. if you could talk about the significance of saudi arabia, perhaps one of the closest allies with the united states, along with israel? >> i think this brings up something that people don't think about very often. the only reason that israel is able to maintain its regional superiority is because most arab states are not democratic. the only countries that could or would buy into this our countries which can suppress their domestic public opinion. the absolute monarchies of the gulf, including united arab emirates, whose ambassadors were at the shameful ceremony in washington, our countries like a few otothers in the arab world - egypt and so forth -- ruled in different ways, but in ways that completely exclude representation, democracy, parliaments, public opinion, free press, and so on and so forth. those countries where it does atst, yet popular outrage what is being taught in washington. the absence of democracy in t