This article in the NY post....

""In many Muslim and Middle Eastern countries, men walk down the street holding hands and often kiss or embrace as a way of saying hello.

U.S. officials yesterday said offering a hand to Abdullah would also be appropriate as a sign of respect.

U.S. relations with the Saudis are complex. Fifteen Saudis were among the 19 hijackers on 9/11, Saudis have exported the extreme Wahabbist form of Islam, and at a time when Bush wants to spread democracy in the Mideast, the Saudis are absolute monarchs.

But the Saudis are military allies and they now pump 9.5 million barrels per day and have a capacity of 11 million. They pledged last week to raise capacity to 12.5 or maybe 15 million barrels by 2009.

But the Saudis pump "sour" crude and there's limited U.S. capacity to refine it""