And three cheers for the Democrats.

Trying to rescind the desperately stupid nuclear technology agreement with the Saudis:

Resolutions introduced Thursday in the US House of Representatives and the Senate seek to restrict US nuclear power cooperation with Saudi Arabia and
instead encourage the development of solar power there.

Representative Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Senator Charles Schumer of New York -- both Democrats -- introduced the resolutions to overturn President Bush's support last month of building new nuclear power in Saudi Arabia, even though the country is home to the largest oil reserves in the world. Furthermore, they said that the country should be developing solar power at a massive scale, given its extremely sunny climate.

Markey worried that handing over such sensitive knowledge to Saudi Arabia would aid in "fueling a nascent nuclear arms race in the Middle East" since many believe Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon despite professing that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes like generating electricity.

"A potential Saudi nuclear power program is just as suspicious," he said. "[Saudi Arabia feels] threatened by the rise of Iran and they want to guarantee that Saudi Arabia too can play the nuclear game."

Schumer said that he has yet to talk with Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat, but he already has reached out to several Republicans including members of the leadership. Markey, one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's closest allies, said the measure soon will have the support of at least six Republicans.

The resolutions were made in disapproval of a memorandum of understanding that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs signed on May 16, during Rice's visit to Saudi Arabia.

The sooner we can get out of this degrading, principle-trashing, co-dependent relationship with the House of Saud, the better.