Saudi King To Meet With Obama Amid Gulf Concerns Over Iran Deal

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

By Yeganeh Torbati
36 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi King Salman will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to seek more support in countering Iran, as the Obama administration aims to use the visit to shore up relations after a period of tensions.

The visit is the king's first to the United States since ascending to the throne in January, and comes after the United States agreed to a nuclear deal with Iran in July, raising Gulf Arab fears that the lifting of sanctions on Iran would enable it to pursue destabilizing policies in the Middle East.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has suffered strain because of what Riyadh sees as Obama's withdrawal from the region, a lack of direct U.S. action against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and a perceived U.S. tilt towards Iran since the 2011 Arab uprisings.

"Both nations are close strategic partners in spite of their differences, and both states need each other," wrote Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington.But he said the Obama administration "needs to reassure its allies and reinforce its commitment to that partnership," especially given Saudi concerns about the Iran nuclear deal.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-king-meet-obama-amid-gulf-concerns-over-052034223--finance.html

[leveymg]

1. They aren't our allies. n/t

[DonViejo]

2. Bush allies. Nothing more, nothing less

[leveymg]

4. Extended family and partners in crime. Literally.

They should be sharing a wing in a supermax.

[Psephos]

3. Agreed. However, they are the last remaining guarantor of the petrodollar.

When the petrodollar goes bye-bye, reserve currency status of the USD will go bye-bye soon after.

And then we will all appreciate the true meaning of the acronym SHTF.

[leveymg]

5. Blackmail is not a foreign policy.

[bananas]

6. Since when?

[FrodosPet]

9. Sad but true

Pretty much all foreign policy since the beginning of quote unquote civilization is based on blackmail and advantage seeking.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

11. But please don't call it blackmail. I prefer "incentives".

[FrodosPet]

8. But I was told the collapse of the economy is a good thing!

Because when society collapses, costing the lives (or at least livelihoods and civilized comforts) of millions of people, it will be the poor, the mild, the restrained, the intelligentsia, who will come out on top over the brutes.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

12. Are you saying the meek will inherit the earth?

[rpannier]

13. If the collapse takes the teahadists, jihadists, foxhadists, fiscal libertarians

every asshat dictator and Howard Kurtz then I'm okay with collapse of civilization
But my requirements are rather high

[FrodosPet]

14. Seriously? Are you saying you are fine with millions more people suffering hunger, homelessness?

As long as you can annoy some people you don't like?

You know, the OTHER people who are looking for a catastrophe so they will have an excuse to pull out their precious gunz and start blasting?

I realize the idea behind the "burn it ALL down" philosophy is that THIS TIME everybody will blame the wealthy and powerful, and thus they will be the first eliminated while a grateful populous lifts up the noble heroes of the revolution and immediately adopts progressive socialism and true socialist leaders.

Sorry...I'm just not seeing that happening.

[rpannier]

15. Of course not

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

10. Right, what do they bring to the table besides military base access and $$$$

[leveymg]

16. They own a shitload of US corporations and real estate. The former give cash to US politicians.

Same in UK, but worse. Google "al-Yamamah"

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

20. I just meant what do they bring to the table to help fight ISIS? Why don't they send in troops?

They are the ultimate catch for ISIS, and if they don't defend themselves.....

[leveymg]

22. Order of the day: Just run and leave your weapons behind.

Why should they send in their own troops to fight their paramilitary? Why, when proxies are so efficient at weapons transfers and can make it profitable?

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

23. I don't care who they send as long as they do something - they're waiting for us to do something,

And at this point we shouldn't be unless other countries step up.

[leveymg]

24. We did something in Beirut, Iraq and Libya - didn't work very well

Why should Syria be any different?

[woodsprite]

7. They don't like that he doesn't kiss their ass like Shrub. n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

21. And hold hands and kissing the cheek or ring.

[Obama Legacy]

17. Most Evil Country In The World

Unbelievable that we call Saudi an ally. They are without a doubt the most EVIL country on the planet. From their extreme destruction of civil liberties to their arbitrary rules and executions. Not to mention their under the table funding of AQ and ISIS as they act like they are surprised when anything happens then.

[jberryhill]

18. King Salmon?

Look out.

[Sunlei]

19. Was a nice boost to our economy when Saudis keep on getting oil on the market

Lower gas prices would not have happened if not for that decision. Others wanted to keep on price setting the barrels.

[Grimelle]

25. Ally?

My *ss!