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A Senator Is Questioning The U.S.-Saudi Relationship At Just The Right Moment

jet57

jet57

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Washington is finally starting to catch on to a big problem:

A Senator Is Questioning The U.S.-Saudi Relationship At Just The Right Moment

WASHINGTON -- When Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) recently gave a speechchallenging the United States' long-standing indulgent relationship with Saudi Arabia, he did it in New York, where experimentation and radical thinking are more common than in stodgy D.C.
But the nation’s capital was listening closely. And some of its most influential players liked what they heard.

Murphy later told The Huffington Post that many of his fellow lawmakers have for some time been privately expressing the criticisms he made of Saudi Arabia -- namely, that it has encouraged the spread of a fundamentalist, intolerant strain of Islamic thought, and that the war it is fighting with U.S. support in Yemen has achieved little besides giving al Qaeda more room to flourish.
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What do you guys think?
 
jet57 said:
Washington is finally starting to catch on to a big problem:

A Senator Is Questioning The U.S.-Saudi Relationship At Just The Right Moment



What do you guys think?
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The Saudi's are supporters of extremism. They also supply our economy with oil, and they allow us to use their country for military bases to protect our interests in the region. The Saudi's were the ones that sold the weapons to Mohamed Farrah Aidid in Somalia (a part of the early al Qaeda) and the reason I have pain every minute of every day because of the mortar they sold him that blew up next to me.
 
Beaudreaux said:
The Saudi's are supporters of extremism. They also supply our economy with oil, and they allow us to use their country for military bases to protect our interests in the region. The Saudi's were the ones that sold the weapons to Mohamed Farrah Aidid in Somalia (a part of the early al Qaeda) and the reason I have pain every minute of every day because of the mortar they sold him that blew up next to me.
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Yeah, excellent post. Sorry to hear you were wounded. I have a nephew who was over there with the Marines; thank God he made it.

The Saudis may be selling oil to US, but that doesn't excuse their participation against us.
 
Renae said:
I think a huffpo piece of intellectual sludge, is always sludge. Aside that, it's not really all that interesting.
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Thank you for your extremely well thought out and deeply informative response.

Your track record is a straight line. Sorta like on a heart monitor.
 
The truth is, there isn't a "moderate" country in the Middle East. We all just wish there was. The peaceful Islamic nation that wants to get along with the world is a myth.

Saudi Arabia is no different.
 
It's about time somebody asked some questions about Saudi. I won't be holding my breath however. At least one 'senator' has been trying to audit the fed or explore Israeli influence in the federal government. In the end, the status quo will be protected by our illustrious representatives.
 
Erod said:
The truth is, there isn't a "moderate" country in the Middle East. We all just wish there was. The peaceful Islamic nation that wants to get along with the world is a myth.

Saudi Arabia is no different.
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Jordan's okay
 
Erod said:
The truth is, there isn't a "moderate" country in the Middle East. We all just wish there was. The peaceful Islamic nation that wants to get along with the world is a myth.

Saudi Arabia is no different.
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You do realize that a large majority of the Islamic population is in countries in south east Asia. I don't recall Indonesia or Malaysia being violent toward us.
 
Unitedwestand13 said:
You do realize that a large majority of the Islamic population is in countries in south east Asia. I don't recall Indonesia or Malaysia being violent toward us.
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I'm referring to the Middle Eastern countries, most all of which are under Islamic rule.
 
Jordan, the UAE, and Lebanon are fairly moderate with the exception of certain radical elements like Hezbollah that exist. I'd go as far as to say Iran is pretty moderate, just not their conservative government.
 
akrunner88 said:
Jordan, the UAE, and Lebanon are fairly moderate with the exception of certain radical elements like Hezbollah that exist. I'd go as far as to say Iran is pretty moderate, just not their conservative government.
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That is true. Jordan, I think is pretty fee of jihadists, as we don't hear about them and king Abdullah II is really a brilliant and well motivated man.

I think you have something there with Iran, some 50% of the population is supposed to be under 40. The government, in my view, is way too macho, combative and sectarian for any good to come to the country. Saudi Arabia is rally the same in a lot of ways. But, I guess money buys respect in the world of politics.
 
One should not conflate the actions of some Saudi citizens with actions of the Saudi government. It would be no more fair to conflate the actions of some US citizens with actions of the US government.

The new Iraqi government aside, the Saudi government is, by far, the most reasonable actor in the Islamic Mideast. They share intel and even operations with the US against terrorists.

The idea that the US should cut off relations with the most reasonable government in the Islamic Mideast is short-sighted. If the US, and really the West, is to have influence in the region, the most reasonable actors must be engaged.
 
ecofarm said:
One should not conflate the actions of some Saudi citizens with actions of the Saudi government. It would be no more fair to conflate the actions of some US citizens with actions of the US government.

The new Iraqi government aside, the Saudi government is, by far, the most reasonable actor in the Islamic Mideast. They share intel and even operations with the US against terrorists.

The idea that the US should cut off relations with the most reasonable government in the Islamic Mideast is short-sighted. If the US, and really the West, is to have influence in the region, the most reasonable actors must be engaged.
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I doubt anybody is advocating ending relations, but everybody knows the terms of the relationship should be redefined. Saudi genocide in Yemen fairly well matches what Israel is doing in Palestine, yet we say nothing, just sell them more weapons.
 
Thoreau72 said:
yet we say nothing, just sell them more weapons.
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False. The US is actively engaged in promoting human rights in Saudi. Our economic and tech engagement with them is based on providing leverage in the region for the purpose of development. Your statement reveals a very limited and biased concept of international relations. Frankly, your position reeks of conspiracy theory.
 
ecofarm said:
False. The US is actively engaged in promoting human rights in Saudi. Our economic and tech engagement with them is based on providing leverage in the region for the purpose of development. Your statement reveals a very limited and biased concept of international relations. Frankly, your position reeks of conspiracy theory.
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Sure we are Ecofarm, of course. Whatever you and Barack say. Yeah, we're like Johnny Appleseed, sprinkling democracy and human rights 'round the globe with our drones. Our best friends are Israel and Saudi. A country, like a person, can be judged by the friends it keeps. :roll:
 
Thoreau72 said:
Sure we are Ecofarm, of course. Whatever you and Barack say. Yeah, we're like Johnny Appleseed, sprinkling democracy and human rights 'round the globe with our drones. Our best friends are Israel and Saudi. A country, like a person, can be judged by the friends it keeps. :roll:
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I don't waste time with Great Sataners. Good day.
 
ecofarm said:
I don't waste time with Great Sataners. Good day.
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Yes, take your marbles and go home. Pity.

Is this an example of simple truth being so very uncomfortable?
 
Thoreau72 said:
Is this an example of simple truth being so very uncomfortable?
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Keep telling yourself that, as your conspiracy theory garbage drives you into isolation. Take comfort in your "special knowledge" (The Truth) about Great Satan.
 
ecofarm said:
Keep telling yourself that, as your conspiracy theory garbage drives you into isolation. Take comfort in your "special knowledge" (The Truth) about Great Satan.
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I have no idea what you're talking about with the Great Satan stuff, but I do thank you for demonstrating how "conspiracy theory" can make a grown man cry. :peace
 
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