When President Bush arrives next week for a landmark visit to some of his closest allies in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt and Israel, there's no doubt his hosts will fete him with the finest in Middle Eastern hospitality. Think glittery palaces, feasts of succulent lamb and lavish state gifts.

But will those hosts also greet Bush with overtures toward ending the Arab-Israeli conflict, concessions on the Lebanese political crisis, continued assistance in Iraq, a renewed commitment to promised democratic reforms, or a willingness to keep Iran and Syria isolated? And what exactly is Bush offering in return? So far, the White House hasn't said. You can read more in this preview story by my DC-based colleague Warren Strobel, who covers foreign affairs and the State Department.

In a recent interview with the Saudi-owned al Arabiya satellite channel, which is broadcast throughout the region to millions of Arab viewers, Bush gave only vague answers about his agenda for the trip: his goal of creating a Palestinian state before the end of his second term, encouraging peace between Arabs and Israelis, the usual. From the excerpts I saw, there was no mention of keeping up the pressure on authoritarian governments to fight corruption and state-sanctioned torture, or to introduce democratic reforms. As you'll recall, the last time the White House really ratcheted up the pressure for change, Islamists made significant electoral gains throughout the region.

From what Bush told Arabiya, curbing Iran's "hostile ambitions" is a top priority for his trip. He acknowledged that recruiting governments to help him keep Iran persona non grata in the international community is no easy task since last month's National Intelligence Assessment, the collective findings of U.S. intelligence agencies, stated that Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

"The fact that I'm having to explain it means it's harder after the report," Bush told Al Arabiya. "But I believe I'll be able to convince them." He said he would emphasize the report's findings that Iran is still enriching uranium, a precursor to weapons making, according to wire reports.

What's clear is that not everyone is as excited about the visit as the emirs, presidents-for-life and other Middle Eastern potentates who count themselves among Friends of Bush. (Or, perhaps more accurately, non-enemies.) Intense security precautions are taking shape in the cities Bush plans to visit, already eliciting gripes from some residents about bomb-sniffing dogs, snipers and blocked streets in busy capitals.

The AP reports that Israel is deploying more than 10,500 security personnel -- more than a third of the country's entire police force -- to keep Bush safe. Israel's Operation Clear Skies will cost $25,000 for every hour Bush is in the country. The same wire story says Jerusalem is spending nearly $400,000 to remove garbage and paint over graffiti in an effort to spruce itself up for the president's arrival.

Unlike his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, whose motorcade swept through Cairo streets last week during a state visit, Bush cannot risk a trip to the Egyptian capital. Implementing the necessary security measures in such a chaotic, sprawling metropolis would be next to impossible. Instead, Bush will make a pit stop in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el Sheikh.

The independent Egyptian newspaper Al Masry al Youm reported yesterday that Sharm el Sheikh, where Bush is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for a mere two hours, is flooded with an estimated "2,000 CIA agents" and that five swanky hotels have been booked by security officials ahead of the presidential talks. Even if the preparations are exaggerated, it's pretty interesting that one of Cairo's most respected dailies is painting the visit as more invasion than courtesy call.

My colleague Miret phoned Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry today to ask about the kingdom's preparations for Bush. She asked only about obvious security measures such as police cordons, traffic bans and the like.

"Why are you asking?" the Saudi spokesman replied tersely.

Obviously, Al Qaida isn't rolling out the red carpet. A video surfaced overnight of the terror network's American-born spokesman, 29-year-old Adam Gadahn, ripping up his U.S. passport and urging Muslims to greet Bush with bombs. Gadahn, a native Californian who also goes by Azzam al Amriki, was charged with treason in the U.S. in 2006 and the FBI is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture.

"Now we direct an urgent call to our militant brothers in Muslim Palestine and the Arab peninsula .. to be ready to receive the Crusader slayer Bush in his visit to Muslim Palestine and the Arab peninsula in the beginning of January and to receive him not with flowers or clapping but with bombs and booby-trapped vehicles," Gadahn said in Arabic, according to the AP's translation.

An Egyptian friend called the office just as I was finishing up this post. I told him I needed a catchy title for today's blog entry about Bush's visit. Think of something creative, I urged him. After all, this friend was reared in the United States, holds a Western passport and attended the American University in Cairo -- just the type of educated, affluent Arab the White House hopes will work to keep those pesky Islamists at bay, right?

"Welcome, dog," he suggested in Arabic, without a second's hesitation. "No, no. How about 'The master comes knocking?' Or 'Bush and bull?' Basically, pick anything to do with servitude."