Posted on 11/20/2018 2:26:13 PM PST by little jeremiah
America First!
The world is a very dangerous place!
The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraq’s fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” Iran is considered “the world’s leading sponsor of terror.”
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism.
After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries – and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!
The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body.
Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an “enemy of the state” and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that – this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!
That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!
I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction – and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels – so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!
Whomever killed Khashoggi, we owe him a basket of muffins.
Lol! I doubt he’s really really dead, in my imagination he’s living in a harem in Turkey at the invitation of a Mr Erdogan...
Great idea. We'll use that same cover story after Erdogan vanishes.
*** This new Prince is welcoming to western life. Allowing women to drive and go to school. ***
How many women are on the Saudi “Women’s Rights Council”?
*** I guess the ramifications of allies and foreign policy escape you. ***
Because I don’t agree with Trump’s Foreign Policy?
“Saudi Arabia, I get along with all of them. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.”
You don’t seem to have much depth of perception.
You don’t seem to get humor, either.
Let me start with why it is a black and white issue ...America first. President Trump is the president of the United States of America, and thus he needs to make the best suite of decisions for the country. Period! It does not get more black and white than that, and that should be the ruling decision. Based on this, I support President Trump's decision 100%.
On why it is not a black and white issue - that's because there are nuances to the matter. I will divide it into the bad and the good.
The bad: Saudi Arabia is not a friend to the US. It is the world's largest supporter of terrorism (while people say that's Iran, actually Iran is number 2 after Saudi Arabia). Iran directly supports Hezbollah (the Shi'ite terror organization) and a couple of Shi'ite groups supported by the Quds force. Saudi Arabia (i) funds a radical branch of Sunni Islam called Wahhabism/Salafism, (ii) funds Madrassas (Islamic schools) teaching that brand of faith across the world from Pakistan to Indonesia, and (iii) that Salafist branch of Sunni Islam is the bedrock of every single Sunni terror group ...and there are a LOT of those. Ranging from Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Al Shaabab, Taliban, Boko Haram, Jamia Islamiya, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Abu Sayyaf, Moro Guerrilas ...you name it, and if it is not Hezbollah it is almost definitely a Sunni group subscribing to Wahhabism.
The good: Saudi Arabia is an ally to the US. An ally does not have to be a friend - just aligned with our objectives. Additionally, it is better to have the Saudis for us than against us. Most importantly, as messed up as Saudi Arabia might be, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman is actually trying to fix some of that stuff. He is not a polished gem, but he is most likely the best type of person that could be leading that country in decades!
I believe President Trump is trying to make the best out of a bad situation, or at least not to make it worse. Sober decision-making is required here, and if I was the president I would be doing more or less the same exact thing President Trump is doing. Not because he thinks Saudi Arabia is a 'nice place,' but because he has real geo-political responsibilities and he is cognizant this requires proper thought and strategy. Acting rashly - like some Dems and Repubs want - would only drive a wedge between us and Saudi Arabia, weaken the position of MBS (who, again, is the best of a bad batch), drive deals worth billions into the hands of China and Russia, and weaken America's interests in the region. Playing the game right however may actually result in Saudi Arabia making much needed improvements - or at the very least doing those important to the US.
Saudi Arabia does not specifically support these groups. Their supporters are in fact Sunni Muslims. But, Turkey is now the center of this group of terrorists. There is very old bad blood between Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The Long Struggle for Supremacy in the Muslim World
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-long-struggle-for-supremacy-in-the-muslim-world-1540572987(pay walled)
https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Oct/160847/the_long_struggle_for_supremacy_in_the_muslim_world.aspx(no pay wall)
FR Comments:https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3700498/posts
When?
I just listened to Sebastian Gorka on Patriot Radio explain it very well pretty much like you did.
Maintaining a mutually supportive and cooperative relationship with Saudi Arabia is in our national interest - globally
Those who say we don’t “need” Saudi Arabia should consider who in the world DOES need Saudi Arabian oil and the consequences to them and us of losing access
Those who say we don’t “need” Saudi Arabia should be OK then when Russian and Chinese military advisors and equipment show up in Saudi and take over all the US equipment there, and when every Arab country in the Gulf and the world re-considers what country is reliable for long term security alliances
Those who say we don’t “ need” Saudi Arabia should consider how Iran and other powers will take advantage of a huge power vacuum when we withdraw support. We May not like our forces being permanently based in the middle east and SWA but gonna feel a lot less safe when the Russians Chinese and Iranians replace us- at the request of every govt in the region
Fair enough but my issues still are:
1) When are we going to punish the Saudis for 911?
2) What exactly do we get from the Saudis?
3) What makes them an ally? Turkey is also technically an ally but are not in our interest to be one.
4) I don’t think these are decisions Trump is making and I believe he probably never had a position on Saudi Arabia. I think he is taking advice from those around him, who very well could be pushing the agenda of the Deep State. Which is to enrich the Bush family and friends who have deep connections with the Saudis.
And friend of Bin Ladan
Saudi Arabia (i) funds a radical branch of Sunni Islam called Wahhabism/Salafism, (ii) funds Madrassas (Islamic schools) teaching that brand of faith across the world from Pakistan to Indonesia, and (iii) that Salafist branch of Sunni Islam is the bedrock of every single Sunni terror group .
I am glad to see you grasp the problem with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi's are fundamental Muslims and should know what Allah and Muhammad want done.
And we should know what the Saudi's intentions should be. (subjugate , convert or kill everybody in this world who are not Muslims.) - Tom
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