Propaganda for the Crown: It is amazing how the New York Times (and the Washington Post) serve the cause of the Emperor. Here, the New York Times feels obligated to explain or justify why Bush held Crown Prince `Abdullah's hand: "Mr. Bush even held the crown prince's hand, a traditional Saudi sign of friendship." Who told the New York Times that? Must be Friedman or Fattah. I met many Saudis over the years, and none held my hand "as a traditional Saudi sign of friendship." And by the way, what is the traditional sign of American friendship? I need to know. In Italy, by the way: holding somebody's shoes is a "traditional Italian sign of friendship."