patrick.net

rando says

I wish I knew how that worked exactly.

Nixon's deals with Saudi Arabia initiated a vast web of Saudi investment in the United States, later including reportedly allegedly W's Arbusto oil company. They buy access, influence, loyalty, media, etc.The results have proven disastrous for America. Petrodollar baksheesh flows through conduits protected by attorney client privilege. It's a combination of carrots and sticks: sign up for your cut from the gravy train, or get constantly obstructed by all the other crooked politicians who are getting their cut and doing the paymasters' bidding.

Also, the deals enabled so much deficit spending that a whole generation of government careers came to depend on it, and to believe in it. The Saudis hate atheists even more than the pseudo-"Christians" hate atheists, so the anti-communist Christian crusaders mistook that for a natural alliance. Anti-communists made the same mistake supporting the Nazis. "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" Some people value their property more than their lives, so they would make any deal to fight communism, even deals with Muslims and Nazis who would kill them.

One interesting possibility though. Since oil prices have fallen, the Saudis have reportedly been spending money faster than they can bring it in. If President Trump puts them in a position where they have to spend money even faster, and on American products (weapons), then he might be trying to drain the Petrodollar swamp by bankrupting them. Alternatively, they are using their purchase agreements to influence the MIC and probably him also. The deals total reportedly around $400 billion, I wonder how much of that finds its way to friends of the President. They are trying to influence each other, and time will tell who wins. As more gas reserves have been found in the Mediterranean, and more fracking happens in America, the Saudis might have difficulty continuing to finance terror in addition to all these new spending deals.

rando says

Theresa May and Pootie also got gold chains, and of course Barry.

It's literally called a collar, specifically "The Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud Medal".

curious2 says

If President Trump puts them in a position where they have to spend money even faster, and on American producfs (weapons), then he might be trying to drain the Petrodollar swamp by bankrupting them. Alternatively, they are using their purchase agreements to influence the MIC and probably him also.

Maybe both are true.

curious2 says

As more gas reserves have been found in the Mediterranean, and more fracking happens in America, the Saudis might have difficulty continuing to finance terror in addition to all these new spending deals.

I wonder if the Saudis are realizing their policy of coddling extreme Wahabis and sending the more troublesome ones abroad to teach in Saudi Madrassahs or join Lashkar-i-Taiba and suchlike may be a policy that is no longer functional and becoming too dangerous.

Listen when King Mullah Allah Daddi Gives you a Gold necklace... YOU TAKE IT!

Trump should have mowed his lawn.

curious2 says

Also, the deals enabled so much deficit spending that a whole generation of government careers came to depend on it, and to believe in it. The Saudis hate atheists even more than the pseudo-"Christians" hate atheists, so the anti-communist Christian crusaders mistook that for a natural alliance. Anti-communists made the same mistake supporting the Nazis.

I wonder what will come first? The Saudis getting civilized, or Saudis going broke?
I think they will go broke before they become civilized, and that could be dangerous for us.

rando says

Fucking White Male says

So I have no idea why the Saudi's have such a grip on us.

I wish I knew how that worked exactly.

Is it possible that the personal wealth of the saudi king allows such luxurious gifts as to be impossible for our presidents (average wealth of a few hundred million) to not kiss their asses? They "donated" how many hundred of millions to the Clinton foundation? The saud king gave bill Clinton $1million in cash for his birthday, gave hillary jewelry and a dress, does trump keep that $100k necklace? Is this all it takes to control someone?

rando says

I wish I knew how that worked exactly.

"Follow the money."

my guess is Saudi has been vital in covert wars vs Russia.

anonymous says

Trump: The US is ready to leave one of its most important military bases if the Gulf crisis worsens

According to President Donald Trump, who has publicly backed the Saudi-led effort and criticized Qatar, relocating from Al Udeid would be no significant obstacle.

Trump was asked about the effect of the crisis on Al Udeid during an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that aired on July 12.

"If we ever have to leave" Al Udeid, he said, "we would have 10 countries willing to build us another one, believe me, and they will pay for it."

Trump did try to downplay potential conflict with Doha, saying, "we are going to have a good relationship with Qatar. We are not going to have problems with the military base." But, he said, "if we ever needed another military base, you have other countries that would gladly build it."

LOL. This is Trump telling the Qatari's........"Look you assholes, we have decided to support the SA Sunnis in their fight against the fucking Iranian Shiites. Stop supporting the Iranians, and do as you are told, or else we will withdraw our military base from your country, and leave you to the mercy of the Sunnis. Do you understand?"

He's bowing, right?

The Saudi's have a large sovereign wealth fund influencing markets (like ~ $700 billions, treasuries in particular) and an influential position in the oil market. They are also an "ally" against Iran and Russia, and at least neutral with regard to Israel within the middle east.
You don't want to piss them off.
This being said what you can sink the oil market, and watch them struggle to monetize what oil they have left before renewables take over oil in the next few decades.
The entire idea of exporting extreme religion is also silly and fragile in the face of modernity.
They will have what they deserve in time.

anonymous says

Strategist - this also sounds like Trump telling his base Mexico will pay for the wall....anyone want to take bets on who gets stuck with the bill if the base gets moved ?

Not trumps base, very few of them pay taxes. Most are on the blue state to red state money train complaining all the way about government spending.

anonymous says

The moment our nation puts any PFC Anderson in harm’s way, thousands of miles and light years from Kansas, there had better be a damn good reason for it, a vital, tangible national interest at stake. At the very least, this country better be on the right side in the conflicts we’re fighting.

Aren't you glad Hillary the Hostile didn't become President?

PFC Snuffy really dodged a bullet there.

anonymous says

Muslim campaign against terrorism.

KSA defines terrorism to include anything that calls into question the fundamentals of Islam, including blasphemy and especially atheism. Worldwide, huge numbers of Muslims (including KSA, Pakistan, Islamic State, and Islamic Sharia patrols) are deadly serious about killing blasphemers, including especially atheists.

Islam is fundamentally incompatible with western liberty. Those who would spread hijrah to the west are committing the worst form of treason, aiding an enemy of both the USA and the Enlightenment that provided the foundation for the Republic.

Heraclitusstudent says

He's bowing, right?

Some might say he's bending over.

curious2 says

KSA defines terrorism to include anything that calls into question the fundamentals of Islam, including blasphemy and especially atheism. Worldwide, huge numbers of Muslims (including KSA, Pakistan, Islamic State, and Islamic Sharia patrols) are deadly serious about killing blasphemers, ...

Can anyone give me even one good reason why, as an atheist, I would not want Islam destroyed?

Makes Trump look like a pasty white Mr. T on a bad hair day.

anonymous says

The appeal, announced on a Twitter account run by the interior ministry late on Tuesday, coincides with an apparent crackdown on potential government critics and a call by exiled opposition figures for demonstrations.

Techarchs in the USA already do that to those who oppose Hormone Denialists.

anonymous says

The Saudi government may also be reluctant to list Aramco on NYSE because doing so may require greater disclosure of sensitive company information than listing in London or Hong Kong, or seeking private financing.

That's why it's never going to happen. A lot of people are going to get screwed by the Aramco stock offering. Watch how fast KSA new found commitment against terrorism disappears once KSA has the money from the stock listing.

That's a sign of mutual trust and honor. World does respect republican leaders a whole lot more than Democrats, that's for sure.

FortWayne says

That's a sign of mutual trust and honor. World does respect republican leaders a whole lot more than Democrats, that's for sure.

You don't read the foreign press much do you?

bob2356 says

That's why it's never going to happen. A lot of people are going to get screwed by the Aramco stock offering. Watch how fast KSA new found commitment against terrorism disappears once KSA has the money from the stock listing.

Screen'd for posterity.

bob2356 says

anonymous says

The Saudi government may also be reluctant to list Aramco on NYSE because doing so may require greater disclosure of sensitive company information than listing in London or Hong Kong, or seeking private financing.

That's why it's never going to happen. A lot of people are going to get screwed by the Aramco stock offering. Watch how fast KSA new found commitment against terrorism disappears once KSA has the money from the stock listing.

I'm pretty sure they will list Aramco in the NYSE. Offering just 5% of the company will require a lot of disclosure to gain trust. Besides, we are now partners with them, and they better do what we say.
The only thing that will disappear over the years is the value and need for oil. All these oil exporting countries, and oil companies are doomed.
So sad!

As long as there isn't an "R" on it, President Trump should be OK.

anonymous says

Russia confirms sale of S-400 missile systems to Saudi Arabia.

https://www.rt.com/business/406116-russia-saudi-arabia-s400-delivery/

When will the winning and the MAGA stop ? Anyone see we're being played here by the Saudis and if so does anyone in Washington care ?

Just a token purchase by the Saudis to keep their new oil buddy happy. The Saudis know who the boss is, and that's us.

anonymous says

Just between you and me - think Putin if you want to know who is really making things happen along with China. We haven't finished rebuilding Iraq, who's going to pay for Syria and the rest of the countries we liberated ?

We ain't paying. Fuck them.

anonymous says

We will be paying one way or another and probably with lives at first so don't forget to support the troops. The longer we stay in bed with the house of Saud, the more we will pay. It's kind of like being with a hooker that charges by the minute and we are well past that now and into the years category so it's one huge bill.

It's time for these Islamic countries to go after their own terrorists. Let them die, why us? We can sell them all the weapons they need to do a good job.

Strategist says

The Saudis know who the boss is, and that's us.

So that's why every president for the last 50 years has sucked saudi dick Because we're the boss.

bob2356 says

Strategist says

The Saudis know who the boss is, and that's us.

So that's why every president for the last 50 years has sucked saudi dick Because we're the boss.

We needed their oil so we sucked their dick. Now, the Saudis need us if they want to defeat the Shiites, and transform themselves into a productive society without oil.
Either they suck our dick, or they suck Shiite dick. Which dick do you think they would want to suck, and suck hard?

anonymous says

Growing ties between Saudis and Israelis could be an ominous sign.

•The Israeli Defense Forces chief of staff has given an historic interview with a Saudi newspaper.

•In it, he promises that Israel is ready to share intelligence with Riyadh about Iran.

•This news is the latest evidence that the Saudis completely prepared for a direct war with Tehran.

My my my, how quickly things change. So easy to divide and conquer Muslims. Good riddance to them both.
Hey Trump, can you order the Saudis to attack before Christmas? I want it to be a "Merry Xmas"

Wait, the Gulf States and Israel having better relations is a bad thing? Saudis beginning to work with Shi'a Iraqis and Shi'a elsewhere (just not Iran)?

Iran isn't run by insane Mullahs?

There's a bunch of crazy shit going on in Iran too, Revolutionary Guard purge, people disappearing, and it's an economic basketcase to boot.

Keep the pressure ON Iran. And, it's wonderful that the Stabestinian Terrorists are losing all serious support except that of the Mullahs.

anonymous says

Guess if we can't get Kim to capitulate and let us start a war in Asia might as well go back to the Middle East, at least it's familiar territory and we can see how well our weapons work - against us.

No worries mate. When the war starts they will be doing all the fighting. And being the good guys, we will ask them to show restraint. :)
The most sophisticated weapons we sell to them come with a "kill switch" I read somewhere the Pakistanis were complaining, their F16's have the kill switch.

TwoScoopsMcGee says

Wait, the Gulf States and Israel having better relations is a bad thing? Saudis beginning to work with Shi'a Iraqis and Shi'a elsewhere (just not Iran)?

Iran isn't run by insane Mullahs?

There's a bunch of crazy shit going on in Iran too, Revolutionary Guard purge, people disappearing, and it's an economic basketcase to boot.

Keep the pressure ON Iran. And, it's wonderful that the Stabestinian Terrorists are losing all serious support except that of the Mullahs.

Iran has promised to wipe out Israel, and are developing the means to do so. Does anyone really expect us to just roll over and play dead? Does anyone think Israel won't use nukes on Iran's nuclear facilities when they cross a certain RED LINE?
The fucking Mid East will always be a mess. Let the Mullahs kill each other. ...A dead Mullah, is a good Mullah.

Ah, the Left. The last Democratic President worked with Fundy Muslims to help them take over half of Libya, while mocking ISIL as a "JV Team" just before they conquered half of Iraq AND Syria in the months after his comment. Meanwhile this President has all but exterminated them in a year.

TwoScoopsOfDragonEnergy says

Ah, the Left. The last Democratic President worked with Fundy Muslims to help them take over half of Libya, while mocking ISIL as a "JV Team" just before they conquered half of Iraq AND Syria in the months after his comment. Meanwhile this President has all but exterminated them in a year.

And don't forget Obama sending billions in cash to the anti-Semitic death cult in Iran.

Obama spent the last 8 years abandoning our traditional allies, vilifying Israel and sucking up to Iran and Russia - only to watch the entire Middle East explode into violence, genocide and frequent use of chemical weapons along with one of the biggest refugee crisis we've seen since WWII.

Can anyone point to a single foreign policy achievement of the Obama years?

socal2 says

Obama spent the last 8 years abandoning our traditional allies, vilifying Israel and sucking up to Iran and Russia - only to watch the entire Middle East explode into violence, genocide and frequent use of chemical weapons along with one of the biggest refugee crisis we've seen since WWII.

wow, good thing there was no violence genocide or use of chemical weapons in the middle east before Obama became president. or that there was no total cluster fuck invasion that had taken place. The middle east was a land of 3 millennia of peace and harmony then obama became president and it went all to shit.

Good thing we don't have another president sucking up to Russia either. .

Aphroman says

Where Republicans first concern was getting the bin laden family on a plane straight to their Saudi Arabia masters sanctuary

Whereas the Left went straight to the "But what did we do to them?" playbook.

Those poor well-off, well educated to flat out Billionaire sons from Egypt and Saudi who organized, paid for, and took part in, 9/11.

When the Left come back to power, they left a power vacuum in Iraq, and then made a front-loaded deal with Iran where they got pallets of cash up front and an immediate end to sanctions, but no ballistic missile checks and a rapidly-expiring nuclear inspection deal.

It also had no chance of passing Congress so was a mere Agreement, something Iran Deal proponents forget.

Feux Follets says

Here's How Saudi Arabia Took Donald Trump for a Ride. "Think of the Saudi-Trump relationship as the love affair from hell."

Saudi Arabia’s influence over Donald Trump hit an initial peak in his first presidential visit abroad, which began in Riyadh in May 2017. The Saudi royals, who had clearly grasped the nature of The Donald, offered him the one thing he seems to love most: flattery, flattery, and more flattery. The kingdom rolled out the red carpet big time. The fanfare included posting banners with photos of President Trump and Saudi King Salman along the roadside from the airport to Riyadh, projecting a five-story-high image of Trump onto the side of the hotel where he would stay, and hosting a male-invitees-only concert by country singer Toby Keith.

According to the Washington Post, “The Saudis hosted the Trumps and the Kushners at the family’s royal palace, ferried them around in golf carts, and celebrated Trump with a multimillion-dollar gala in his honor, comple...

Trump clearly loves to brag and loves being told how great he is. Everyone knows that, including the Chinese who told Trump how awesome he was, and treated him like a King just like the Saudis. They all do that. It's just diplomacy, and Trump knows it. He was not suckered by the Saudis, nor was he suckered by the Chinese. Trump may be an asshole at times, but he is not stupid. Washington Post and most of the media are simply biased and their comments should be taken with a grain of salt.
If anything, it seems Trump and Israel are taking advantage of Saudi/Iranian conflicts to divide and conquer. Why do you think Iran's Mullahs keep calling for Muslim unity?
One does not have to like Trump or any politician to give credit where credit is due. You just have to remove the bias or be an Independent like me.

Feux Follets says

From the you can't make this shit up corner....

A nuclear deal with the Saudis is a good thing, says former GOP leader Eric Cantor

•Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the U.S. and other countries for several years in pursuit of a nuclear energy partnership, with the stated aim of diversifying its energy base.

•Riyadh has found a willing partner in the Trump administration, which has signaled far greater support for a deal than its predecessors.

•Months of escalating tensions between the kingdom and its regional arch-rival Iran have raised the stakes for any future nuclear plans.

They are not gonna go nuclear. Saudi Arabia is a desert. They can get cheaper electricity from solar. It's just bullshit to make the case against Iran's nukes more digestible.

socal2 says

Obama spent the last 8 years abandoning our traditional allies, vilifying Israel and sucking up to Iran and Russia - only to watch the entire Middle East explode into violence, genocide and frequent use of chemical weapons along with one of the biggest refugee crisis we've seen since WWII.

Can anyone point to a single foreign policy achievement of the Obama years?

I can point to three:
1. He was Black.
2. He was a nice guy.
3. He won the Nobel peace prize.

"The honor has also been bestowed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama."

So one politician gives another politician an honorary award. Yawn.