Trump Regime Sticks By Despotic Saudi Arabia

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Saudi Arabia is the most ruthlessly reckless of all despotic Arab countries - a family-owned and controlled territory masquerading as a nation-state.

It's closely allied with Washington's regional wars of aggression, supporting the scourge of ISIS and other terrorist groups it pretends to oppose, the same way the US, NATO and Israel operate.

The menace Riyadh represents extends well beyond the Middle East. As long as Republicans and undemocratic Dems consider the kingdom a strategic ally, they don't give a hoot about how repressive its ruling authorities are domestically or abroad.

There may be much more to the Khashoggi killing than meets the eye. Ordinarily an incident like his murder would go largely unnoticed. 

The Saudis execute a dozen or more critics, human rights activists, and others opposed to its ruthlessness monthly - mostly by public beheadings, revealing its barbarism, drawing practically no world attention, nor about any of its other horrendous human rights abuses, the Arab world's worst crimes against humanity.

So why the international furor over Khashoggi's murder that won't die, the incident still making world headlines.

For Turkey's Erdogan, it's a way to pressure the kingdom by drip-feeding information for financial aid he likely seeks, needed for its ailing economy, perhaps holding back the most damning information he knows so far.

For the CIA, Khashoggi's murder may be a way for the agency to replace a figure it considers unreliable and reckless with someone it feels is more trustworthy.

For Trump and his son-in-law slumlord Jared Kushner, supporting MBS may be over wanting Saudi money supporting their family businesses as much as for geopolitical reasons.

On Tuesday, the White House released a statement, saying Trump "stand(s) with Saudi Arabia." It's filled with a litany of Big Lies and other rubbish, saying:

"…Iran…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 (Assad) Syria…"

"(T)he 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."

Fact: Yemen is Washington's war, launched by Bush/Cheney in late October 2001, weeks after the state-sponsored 9/11 mother of all false flags.

Fact: The Saudis are allied with all US wars of aggression - in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa.

Fact: Iran is the region's peace and stability champion - polar oppose how the US, NATO, Israel, Saudis, and their imperial partners operate.

Fact: Hezbollah is part of Lebanon's democratically elected government. It's no terrorist group. Nor is Syria's Assad a "dictator." Nor has Iran killed any Americans or anyone else other than helping Damascus combat US-supported terrorists.

Fact: The Islamic Republic seeks cooperative relations with all other countries. Its ruling authorities seek the destruction of none.

Fact: The US, far and away, is the world's leading state sponsor of terror. So is Israel in a junior partner role - terrorizing Palestinians for decades, as well as neighboring Syria and at times Lebanon.

Trump: "…Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave."

False! The Saudis want control over the entire Arabian peninsula. Washington wants control over Yemen for strategic reasons, why US launched war on the country remains ongoing in its 18th year with no prospect for resolution near-term.

Trump: "…Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism."

Fact: America, NATO, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are the world's leading state sponsors of ISIS and other terrorist groups.

Trump's claim about Riyadh intending to "invest $450 billion in the United States" is way overblown, hyperbole substituting for reality.

DLT saying his regime already took strong action against Saudis involved in Khashoggi's murder by imposing sanctions is laughable - largely a meaningless action, refusing to hold crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) responsible for the assassination he clearly ordered, virtually confirmed by the CIA's assessment.

Trump: "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 (MBS) had knowledge of this tragic event. Maybe he did and maybe he didn't!"

Fact: There are no maybes about it. MBS ordered Khashoggi's murder. No one else, other than king Salman, would have dared authorize it on his own.

Trump: "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!"

Fact: In cahoots with the Saudis, Israel, NATO, and its other imperial partners, Washington uses the scourge of terrorism as imperial proxies it pretends to oppose, smashing one country after another in pursuit of unchallenged dominance.

Trump's above remarks indicate he intends sticking by MBS, regardless of the CIA's assessment, holding him directly responsible for ordering Khashoggi's murder.

Challenging the CIA is risky business. If Langley wants MBS replaced with someone it considers more reliable and trustworthy, don't bet against it not happening.

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