If we are going to defend countries they should all respect us by making a contribution."

This, from President Trump in a press conference yesterday during a meeting with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Trump was asked about the announcement that the U.S. would be moving Patriot missile defense systems and other military hardware and personnel out of Saudi Arabia (more below). He suggested that tensions with Saudi Arabia over their oil production is still running high, and that he has lost patience with "protecting" other, wealthy countries that don't give much in return.

According to a "breaking news" report from the Wall Street Journal today, the Trump Administration is starting to take some of his military hardware out of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, citing—get this—"assessments by some officials that Tehran no longer poses an immediate threat to American strategic interests."

Could it be that TAC's Realism & Restraint hypnopaedia is finally working in the White House…the Pentagon?