U.S. Struggles to Explain Alliance With Saudis
Source: New York Times
By DAVID E. SANGERJAN. 4, 2016
WASHINGTON The Obama administration on Monday confronted the fundamental contradiction in its increasingly tense relationship with Saudi Arabia. It could not bring itself, at least in public, to condemn the execution of a dissident cleric who challenged the royal family, for fear of undermining the fragile Saudi leadership that it desperately needs in fighting the Islamic State and ending the conflict in Syria.
The United States has usually looked the other way or issued carefully calibrated warnings in human rights reports as the Saudi royal family cracked down on dissent and free speech and allowed its elite to fund Islamic extremists. In return, Saudi Arabia became Americas most dependable filling station, a regular supplier of intelligence, and a valuable counterweight to Iran.
For years it was oil that provided the glue for a relationship between two nations that share few common values.
Today, with American oil production surging and the Saudi leadership fractured, the mutual dependency that goes back to the early 1930s, with the first American investment in the kingdoms oil fields, no longer binds the nations as it once did.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/us/politics/us-struggles-to-explain-alliance-with-saudis.html?_r=0
GitRDun
(1,846 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)I think the world wouldn't be quite so far up shit creek if we had followed some of his advice regarding foreign relations;
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)karynnj
(59,475 posts)down the violence in Syria and obviously, Yemen with the fact that they are an intolerant, country that really offends most of our values.
However, it is entirely possible that the timing - that is seen as unfortunate - when there was a long shot effort to get a diplomatic solution to get a ceasefire in Syria might in fact have been motivated to blow up that hope. It may be that SA which has pushed the US to be more aggressive there for years considers that a diplomatic solution is not likely to result in SA friendly country. Not to mention - it could make Iran stronger.
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)They all say the Saudi Royal Family is prepared to chop off as many heads as necessary to keep the most radical elements of Saudi society satisfied with the status quo and from succumbing to the charms of ISIS.
SansACause
(520 posts)Because if they did that again, we'd have to attack Iraq.
TrollBuster9090
(5,953 posts)safeinOhio
(32,531 posts)Not like Iran won't need nucs to defend themselves from all those weapons SA got from us. SA spawned OBL and ISSI.
TrollBuster9090
(5,953 posts)the Saudis.
They practice the most extreme form of radical islam, Wahhabism, fund anti-western madrasas all over the world which teach muslim children to want to destroy America. 15 out of 18 of the 9-11 hijackers were Saudis, most of the foreign fighters in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Syria are Saudis, Bin Laden was a Saudi. All of the warhawk B.S. rhetoric used to justify regime change in Iraq and Syria goes DOUBLE for Saudi Arabia. If it wasn't for the multinational oil industry A) needing Saudi oil, and B) owning Congress, Saudi Arabia would probably be America's number one "enemy" in the "war" on islamic terrorism.
Iran, on the other hand, is full of secular, sophisticated, pro-western young people who are ready to dump their theocratic government the first realistic chance they get. After the 9-11 attacks, the only spontaneous, pro-USA candlelight vigil in the middle east was held in Tehran, while people were celebrating in Riyadh.
And yet, I have no doubt that if it comes to a direct conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, we'll faithfully back Saudi Arabia over Iran, despite the fact that half the people in Saudi Arabia wish the USA were destroyed, and half the people in Iran with they could JOIN the USA.
Still, I'm optimistic that Obama may be the only U.S. President ever in a position to pull us out of this Faustian bargain with Saudi Arabia.
No, plus 1000.
No, plus 1,000,000
Iran has been ready to make a change for years.
Duppers
(28,094 posts)TrollBuster9090
(5,953 posts)because that would drive the Iranian people, who are just about ready to DUMP the Iranian theocracy, back into supporting them again, and thus perpetuate the fear doctrine that they've benefited from for so many years. If the USA stops hating, fearing, and wanting to destroy Iran and Cuba, and re-negotiates the stupid 'wag the dog' relationship it has with Israel and Saudi Arabia, you've eliminated about half the reasons why anybody would ever want to vote Republican. I don't blame them for desperately trying to prevent that from happening.
gvstn
(2,805 posts)They are just rich enabled plutocrats
Israel should just get a grip and make peace. I don't care what the bible says, just give over some land and stop the killing. Enough of this already. Get a grip!
blackspade
(10,056 posts)The Saudis know we need them so they do whatever the fuck they want.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)The Iranian people have more in common with the USA, than the Wahhabi nutjobs in the KSA.
A bold move for Obama would be to get on a plane and fly to Tehran like Sadat flew to Jerusalem.
The Iranians would welcome him with open arms.
safeinOhio
(32,531 posts)and you can see why they don't like or trust us. We helped dump a popular Democratically elected President and installed a hated dictator, the Shah.
gvstn
(2,805 posts)The Royal family is cutting off hands for jerking off while they watch internet porn all day. Hypocrisy much?
I have no love for the Saudis unlike our government which turns a blind eye to them and their actions.
How is their executing by decapitation any worse than ISAL? Disgusting that we defend them!
burrowowl
(17,606 posts)9-11?
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)and as a result they own most of our politicians.
Nihil
(13,508 posts)Supporting Saudi Arabia despite all of their crimes against humanity.
Supporting Israel despite all of their crimes against humanity.
Supporting "regime change" in dozens of countries.
Having two levels of justice for American citizens depending on whether they are rich or poor.
Having two levels of policing for American citizens depending on whether they are white or non-white.
It's just the everyday way in the USA ...
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)Our economy is military in nature, and we have great ambition in shaping the world to our desire.
There's your fucking answer. It's why I didn't go to Vietnam, and it's why I didn't buy the Iraq war hype.