Anti-Climacus

BUSH SELLS OUT AMERICAN CHILDREN: thanks to The Corner for the link to Ari Fleischer's press briefing:

" Q In the meeting this morning, did the President mention this testimony up on Capitol Hill about Saudi children who are being kidnapped and taken back to Saudi Arabia -- allegedly kidnapped and taken back to Saudi Arabia -- did he mention that? Does the President have an opinion on that kind of thing?

MR. FLEISCHER: Yes, I was asked that at the gaggle this morning. That was a topic that was raised by Secretary Burns in his meeting directly with the Foreign Minister. And what I indicated this morning is this is an issue that, unfortunately, presents itself not only with Saudi Arabia, but with many a sovereign government that have their own laws that are not carbon copies of America's laws -- after all, they're sovereign nations -- about custody. And in each of these cases, it's a heartbreaking, difficult, difficult issue that the State Department works very hard on in a very individual way to do what's best for the interests of a child.

And it's just as complicated and just as sad as any domestic case here where you have parents who are fighting for the custody of a child, and it's compounded and made more difficult by the fact that it involves laws of a sovereign nation that the United States cannot control, whether it's Saudi Arabia or any other nation.

And so, unfortunately, there's long casework at the State Department. They have a bureau that's focused just on these type of issues. And each one of these cases presents a real heartbreaking incident that the State Department works very hard to solve, case by case by case around the world.

Q If I may follow up, I would imagine there are some women's groups out there who would want some kind of forceful statement from the President on this matter.

MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I explained exactly how this matter is handled, and it involves some of the most difficult issues. And you can make the same case about things domestically. There are terrible, heartbreaking cases that pit man against woman, husband against wife, former husband, former wife, here in our country when it comes to custody. And each one of them is complicated, each one of them is difficult. And the focus at all times, in the President's opinion, should be on what's best for the child.

Q Ari, does that mean the United States --

MR. FLEISCHER: We'll get there. Wendell."