Arab league confronts U.S.

The Arab League has decided to openly buck the United States. As you probably know, last week we vetoed a proposal to censure Israel for its wanton killing of 18 innocent Palestinian civilians in the Gaza strip. Well, the Arab league has decided to retaliate by ignoring U.S. imposed restrictions on banking transactions with the Hamas leaders:

Arab countries have agreed to lift the financial blockade on the Palestinians after the US vetoing of a draft United Nations resolution condemning the recent Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary-general, said at a meeting of the organisation in Cairo on Sunday: "There will be no compliance with any restriction imposed ... The Arab banks have to transfer money [to the Palestinians].

"Our message is loud and clear to those who take unfriendly positions against Arabs."

The US and European-led imposition of economic sanctions, along with an Israeli refusal to release revenues it collects on the Palestinians behalf, have severely damaged the Palestinian economy and have led to protests by civil servants who have gone unpaid for months.

Arab banks have not transferred funds to the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority amid concerns of incurring US-led penalties.

This is about as "in your face" as the Arab League can get. It will be intresting to see whether Bush decides to impose penalties on the Arab banks.

It hasn't been a smooth ride for Bush over the past few weeks, and it doesn't look like is going to get any smoother in the immediate future. Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy, could it?