Trump seeks to revive ‘Arab NATO’ to confront Iran

Hurriyet Daily News ^ | Jul 29, 2018 | Reuters Washington

[Eddie01]

The Trump administration is quietly pushing ahead with a bid to create a new security and political alliance with six Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter Iran

[Eddie01]

Seems like a good idea.

[Steely Tom]

Impeach! Collusion!

[BenLurkin]

Absolutely; Arab nations join forces against Iran.

And have no US troops, ships, or planes (or money) involved.

[allendale]

Iran is in dire economic straits. There is no Obama and no planes loaded with foreign hard currency cash being delivered to the mullahs. The mullahs are running out of the hard currency cash their goons and thugs demand to terrorize an increasingly agitated population. There is nothing like economic deprivation to disrupt an existing political and social order. The nihilistic, sadistic mullahs may have no choice but to start a war. Hopefully they will be the first to die.

[Spiridon]

This story is from the Turkish media and I wonder what role, if any, the Turkish ruler plays.

I guess the question is, who’s side is he on?

Trump is trying to get the Turkish regime to let go of a Christian missionary labeled a criminal and terrorist supporter by Erdogan’s thugs.

[himno hero]

Yep, as iff the UN’s OIC want their dream child’s weapons aborted.

[PIF]

Anything to do with muslim Arabs will end badly.

[Tai_Chung]

It would be incredible if there was a treaty obligation between the states to protect themselves against Iran.

It can’t be an “Arab NATO” because they aren’t near the North Atlantic. What should it be called? There are a few requirements.

1. It must be an acronym
2. The acronym must describe the security alliance of the member states.
3. Bonus if the acronym spells a word that is easily pronounced.

[BenLurkin]

Sunni
Coalition
Against
Tehran

SCAT

[BradyLS]

Great. Another alliance we’ll be expected to pay for.

[dfwgator]

Bad idea, the Arabs that fight for you one day, will fight against you the next.

[dfwgator]

Is T.E. Lawrence still available?

[grania]

Totally dumb idea. I thought President Trump wanted to get out of situations where we defend other countries. Those nations can pay to defend themselves, and provide their own troops. This would be worse than regime change in Egypt, Libya and Iraq was; worse than attempting to overthrow Assad. I thought President Trump was opposed to those policies.

And another thought. What would happen if NATO got into a war situation with a new alliance?

[spokeshave2]

Sunni or later shitte happens.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Bad idea, the Arabs that fight for you one day, will fight against you the next.

Indeed. Arabs have shown themselves to be untrustworthy, more often than not.

Would they unite against Israel next, or would Israel be invited to join the club?

[UnwashedPeasant]

Uniting Arabs is risky.

They were split up for a reason.

[Reily]

Usually they will fight each other as easily as they will fight an enemy. However Shia Iran may actually have their attention, whether they are actually capable of being effective is another issue. Usually all Arab armies are good for is killing their own people (unarmed!).

[Widget Jr]

Two articles explaining problems with Middle East armies have problems are Why Arabs Lose Wars,and The Arab Mind Revisited, by Norvell B. De Atkine, Middle East Quarterly, in 1999 and 2004 respectively. These are a little dated as Arab nations are trying to modernize their armed forces, while illustrating problems Arab armies have had since the 1960's. The comments on this thread are a interesting read.