(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-15 19:38

"The United States benefits when people come to my country," Bush said. "And one of my concerns was after September the 11th that our visa policy, particularly for Saudis, was tightened to the point where we missed opportunity to show young and old alike what our country is really about."

Later Tuesday, Bush visited al-Murabba Palace and The National Museum, stopping in a gallery describing the Prophet Muhammad's life. The president paused to look at a 136-year-old handwritten Quran that was opened to a page filled with gold and turquoise decorative script.

Afterward, he was traveling to Al Janadriyah Farm, the king's country retreat where he maintains 150 Arabian stallions. That trip repays the two visits that the king, while crown prince, made to Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, in 2002 and 2005.

Bush received a warm embrace from Abdullah upon his arrival in the kingdom Monday. Among ordinary Saudis and across much of the Mideast, Bush is unpopular, particularly because of the Iraq war and unflinching US support for Israel. Bush and Abdullah were emphasizing their strong personal ties.

Abdullah presented Bush with what appeared to be a medallion of gold with white and green stones, suspended from a gold palm tree emblem with crossed swords. Bush, who dislikes late nights, stayed up well past his regular 9:30 pm bedtime for after-dinner talks with the king.

Earlier Monday, Bush delivered a sophisticated weapons sale for Saudi Arabia, trying to bolster defenses against threats from US adversary Iran and muster support in this oil-rich kingdom for a long-stalled Mideast peace agreement.

Coinciding with Bush's arrival, the administration officially notified the US Congress it will offer Saudi Arabia sophisticated Joint Direct Attack Munitions -- or "smart bomb" -- technology and related equipment. The deal envisions the transfer of 900 of the precision-guided bomb kits, worth US$123 million, that would give Saudi forces highly accurate targeting abilities.

Some lawmakers fear the systems could be used against Israel. US Congress, however, appears unlikely to block the deal because of Saudi Arabia's cooperation in fighting terrorism and deterring Iran.

The US already has notified Congress of five other packages to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, including Patriot missiles. The total amount of eventual sales as part of the Gulf Security Dialogue is estimated at US$20 billion, a figure subject to actual purchases.

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