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US to send 1,800 troops, dozens of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions
Fox News ^ | Lucia I Suarez Sang

Posted on 10/11/2019 1:47:51 PM PDT by tkocur

Roughly 1,800 U.S. service members, as well as several dozen fighter jets and other air defense implements, will be sent to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Kingdom amid heightened tensions with Iran, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Officials said the U.S. is set to ship two F-15 squadrons, two Patriot missile batteries, one anti-missile defense system known as THADD and other planes.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said he informed Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman earlier Friday about the additional troops “to ensure and enhance the defense of Saudi Arabia.”

"Saudi Arabia is a longstanding security partner in the Middle East and has asked for additional support to supplement their own defense and defend the international rules-based order," Esper told reporters at the Pentagon.

The Pentagon’s announcement came just hours after Iranian officials said two missiles from an undetermined source hit one of its oil tankers that was traveling through the Red Sea about 60 miles off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

The explosions from the missiles damaged two storerooms aboard the oil tanker – identified as the Sibiti – and caused a brief oil leak into the Red Sea. The leak was later plugged, Iranian state television reported.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: arabnato; iran; iraniannukes; muslimworld; oiltanker; saudiarabia; sibiti; trumpmiddleeast
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To: madison10

Because all indications are—unless one is blind or oblivious—is often impetuous, changes course dramatically and often, confuses our allies, reverses himself, makes missteps that stress out staff which have to walk back and spin, offers a “we will just have to see” (because he has no guiding long term strategy) on just about any international issue he is challenged on, and very capable and knowledgeable professionals he brings on continuously quit in droves over three years—and some people call this “brilliant, 3D chess” that confuses the enemy. It is Donald Trump that is often confused, conflicted, contradictory.


81 posted on 10/11/2019 7:05:37 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (20 years on FR (mostly Asian/N Korea issues), and 40 years Conservative Republican: AmericanInTokyo)
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To: tkocur

How much help did the Saudis give us in fighting ISIS? In providing homes for refugees? They are not our friends, unless we sell our friendship to whomever can pay for it.


82 posted on 10/11/2019 7:10:59 PM PDT by grania ("We're all just pawns in their game")
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To: AmericanInTokyo

PS You see him beginning quickly to walk back the Kurd Sellout Thing ASAP as well, too, keeping US troops there, back peddling, just simply shifting about 50 service members to a larger base under the guise of “force protection”. Not a single one of 1,000 US troops there have been removed, but the shoot from the hip statement which shocked many aides, most of the Pentagon and foreign policy community was enough to ramp up Turkish attacks on our ally in a dastardly immoral act that he is fiercly now trying to get under control by threatening Isbanbul with economic disaster via Tweet. He will backtrack soon enough. Maybe blame it on Nancy Pelosi or somebody else.


83 posted on 10/11/2019 7:26:10 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (20 years on FR (mostly Asian/N Korea issues), and 40 years Conservative Republican: AmericanInTokyo)
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To: carriage_hill

NONE of the countries in the Mid East is a friend. They may be allies, but they are not our friends.


84 posted on 10/11/2019 7:49:54 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: norcal joe

“I would wait for all the (usual) knee-jerk reactions until we find out what’s going on over there.”

I agree. Just wait and see what happens. Knee-jerking seems to be a common trait with some members of this forum.


85 posted on 10/11/2019 8:38:37 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Innovative

Saudi’s are an ally? At best they are an entangling alliance. Trump is sending our military to Saudi Arabia? He should be protecting the Kurds that stopped ISIS, not those that attacked us on 9-11. They are sent there as cannon fodder. We put ourselves in the ME which is always supremely foolish. Let those that live there deal with their own forever at war neighborhood.


86 posted on 10/11/2019 8:47:49 PM PDT by apoliticalone (Without freedom of speech we have no democracy and will lose all our freedoms.)
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To: apoliticalone

The Kurds will protect themselves....they always have and do...on occasion we help....and likewise in return..

Saudi’s anther story altogether....arch enemy of Iran for power and control over there..and that includes the waterways for trade etc. So yes we will do what needs to be done to protect trade routes and the Iranian threat.


87 posted on 10/11/2019 8:52:46 PM PDT by caww
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To: PghBaldy

Name any country in ME that has fought shoulder to shoulder with Americans. Only the Kurds as a people have done that.. They all want our military paying and dying while they watch it on TV. We need to be watching on TV while they pay and die. It is not our business.


88 posted on 10/11/2019 9:01:49 PM PDT by apoliticalone (Without freedom of speech we have no democracy and will lose all our freedoms.)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

UK and USSR didn’t fail in Afghanistan. A tiny dirty secret of Afghanistan it is so toxic and miserable that it doesn’t worth to hold a foot there. US will learn this lesson and then China too.
As for Saudi involvement I don’t really understand why pull troops from Syria to put troops in SA.
You either end endless senseless wars or not.


89 posted on 10/11/2019 9:03:00 PM PDT by NorseViking
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To: tkocur

Hopefully this is just to train those lazy damn sons of Ishmael to fight their own battles.
They can pay us, and they can pay us a whole bunch.

I can see Trump deciding that is good for America.

He likes good deals.

I don’t think SA is worth one American. IMO.

I support Trump but, I don’t even really trust what FOX reports anyway.


90 posted on 10/11/2019 9:05:41 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope.)
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To: tkocur

Iran gets hit so we send two F-15 squadrons to protect SA? A bit queer?

Has to be E model squadrons. C and D models have been relegated to home defense and not serious air defense any longer. E models are bomb trucks for offensive actions.

A bit queer isn’t it? Odd way to “protect” SA isn’t it?


91 posted on 10/11/2019 9:11:32 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (We are governed by the consent of the governed and we are fools for allowing it.)
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To: Innovative

Are you being sarcastic, dishonest, ignorant or simply stupid? Those are the only possibilities for your statement.


92 posted on 10/11/2019 9:15:49 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (We are governed by the consent of the governed and we are fools for allowing it.)
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To: Wuli
I think the U.S. switch of cutting the aid to the Kurds but to turn around and send even more aid to the Saudis is duplicitous. It’s double speak.

It may look that way. But for me and considering my research I have found that every time I try and second guess Trump I wind up wrong. That's Just me.

I'm pretty sure what is going on is that Trump is trying to get the Saudis to help the Kurds. We had 2,000 troops in the region that could have helped them. So is it a coincidence that Trump sends 1,800 to Saudi Arabia along with loads of planes,tanks etc. to "help protect the Saudis from Iran." My guess is that they are really for the Kurds.None of us would leave an ally hanging out to die.I doubt Trump would either.He has probably asked MBS to go in and help the Kurds. I would be amazed if he hasn't. And once again you will have muslims fighting muslims instead of infidels leading the charge. When we go in there is no respect from anyone. Any win will not stay a win. Look at what happened in Iraq. Muslims only respect other muslims, just the way it is in the mid east.

93 posted on 10/12/2019 1:48:45 AM PDT by rodguy911 (Maga: USA supports Trump. Home of the Free because of the brave.)
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To: SisterK

You have to remember MBS was sent in to change all that. King Salman realized that the corruption that was instituted largely by 41 and the cabal/Illuminati gang was not who the Saudis really are. He tasked MBS to change all that. Is it perfect? Has he changed everything in just a few years? Obviously not. Is he doing all he can and making huge changes in the kingdom almost daily,yes.


94 posted on 10/12/2019 1:52:21 AM PDT by rodguy911 (Maga: USA supports Trump. Home of the Free because of the brave.)
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To: SuperLuminal
No question.

My guess is if you look deep enough, take a deep enough dive you will find company fingerprints all over ISIS, al queda,Arab spring,Taliban. Look at people like al Baghdadi and Fidel Castro,IMran Awan,how the hell are these guys still alive if they are not getting tips from the latest attack from the CIA,has to be them.

Look at the DNC. Where do they go whenever they need a new op? Take out Seth Rich,go after Trump 24/7,make everything that the dems have done wrong Trumps fault. These clowns are experts in the world of projection. Hillary colludes with Putin to the tune of 145 mill so let's claim Trump is doing the same with Putin. Just get the drivebys to follow along and you have Russian collusion,Ukranisn collusion,add in a couple of company whistle blowers,yeah I'd say the CIA is about as corrupt as it can get.

95 posted on 10/12/2019 2:00:46 AM PDT by rodguy911 (Maga: USA supports Trump. Home of the Free because of the brave.)
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To: Innovative
You cannot let Iran control everything.

You have to stop them, help our allies against Iran.

Allies like the Kurds?

96 posted on 10/12/2019 3:58:44 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

Some people think that DoodleDawg. Anything to get our Service Men and Women killed for nothing. As long as it is not them. A few are making a lot of money off the shed blood of our Service Men and Women. President Trump knows this and wants to stop it. They are fighting him tooth and toenail every inch of the way.


97 posted on 10/12/2019 4:10:40 AM PDT by sport
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To: madison10

Hell no there is never no end to neocon wars and nation building


98 posted on 10/12/2019 4:59:32 AM PDT by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT!)
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To: 48th SPS Crusader
Effin neocons do not care about that. They just want WAR WAR WAR where our young will die.

PDJT better not let this happen.

99 posted on 10/12/2019 5:08:25 AM PDT by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT!)
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To: Zenjitsuman
"Why are we doing this"

Because the Saudis won't do sh!t for themselves, and war gaming shows they're completely vulnerable to a blitz attack.

100 posted on 10/12/2019 6:09:54 AM PDT by StAnDeliver (CNN's Dana B: "Show of hands: Coverage for undocumented immigrants?" ***all Democrat hands raised***)
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