There is much to digest in President Trump's statement on standing with Saudi Arabia. Much of it is hard to swallow. Here are six observations which I hope you will find easy to digest however unappetizing the menu.
1. Iran is The Greater Threat to The United States
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.”
Here Trump is correct. The Obama Administration took a very different position where it concerned Iran. Indeed, its nuclear agreement with Iran was the centerpiece of its foreign policy. In the course of attaining this objective, the Obama Administration willingly looked the other way as the Iranian regime murdered its own people during its "election" of 2009 and took Americans hostage only to be rewarded for it to the tune of at least $400 million after the deal was done.
So the Obama Administration is willing to make compromises with Iran to achieve its political objectives, the Trump Administration is willing to make compromises with Saudi Arabia to achieve its political objectives.
2. Trump Has a Great Deal of Faith in Saudi Arabia
President Trump believes that Saudi Arabia is eager to withdraw its troops from Yemen, to fight radical Islamic terrorism and accepts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's denials that he had any involvement in Jamal Khashoggi's murder and if he did, he doesn't really give a damn. Trump's faith in Saudi Arabia is as foolish as Obama's was in Iran.
3. It's All About Money & Oil
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!
Don't believe a word Trump says when it comes to money. It was only last month when Trump erroneously claimed that Saudi defense contracts were responsible for the creation of 500,000 jobs. Nor do I believe Trump when he claims the Saudis "have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels". But whatever the veracity of his statements, money and the power that comes with it is what matters to Trump and if a permanent resident of the United States is decapitated in the process then so be it.
4. Trump Sullies Khashoggi
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.
If these statements have no bearing on Trump's decision then why mention it at all? They create the impression that Khashoggi deserved his fate and the Saudis needn't worry about any further consequences.
5. Trump Won't Hold MbS Accountable No Matter What The CIA Says
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!
The CIA has concluded MbS ordered Khashoggi's death. Surely Trump is aware of this information and this should be sufficient for him. If Trump has evidence to the contrary then he should produce it. This ambiguity gives aid and comfort to the Saudi regime and demoralizes the men and women who serve under his command.
6. Despite Trump's Foolish Statement, Previous Administrations Wouldn't Have Changed Our Relationship with Saudi Arabia
Notwithstanding the foolishness in much of what Trump said, had Jamal Khashoggi's death occurred under any other President it would not have resulted in a change in relations with Saudi Arabia. For all his courting of Iran, Obama couldn't ignore the needs of Saudi Arabia. The only difference between Trump and his predecessors is that they would have been more circumspect about our relationship with Saudi Arabia and would not have in the process smeared Khashoggi, a dead man who cannot defend himself.
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