Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

Rogue Valley · Dec 10, 2017

Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

By Moustafa Bayoumi
9 December 2017

Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Donald Trump

The entire Middle East, from Palestine to Yemen, appears set to burst into flames after this week. The region was already teetering on the edge, but recent events have only made things worse. And while the mayhem should be apparent to any casual observer, what’s less obvious is Jared Kushner’s role in the chaos. Kushner is, of course, the US president’s senior advisor and son-in-law. The 36-year-old is a Harvard graduate who seems to have a hard time filling in forms correctly. In his role as the president’s special advisor, Kushner seems to have decided he can remake the entire Middle East, and he is wreaking his havoc with his new best friend, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. But the Kushner-Salman alliance moves far beyond Riyadh. The Saudis and Americans are now privately pushing a new “peace” deal to various Palestinian and Arab leaders that is more lop-sided toward Israel than ever before. Ahmad Tibi, a Palestinian parliamentarian in the Israeli Knesset, explained the basic contours of the deal to the New York Times: no full statehood for Palestinians, only “moral sovereignty.” Control over disconnected segments of the occupied territories only. No capital in East Jerusalem. No right of return for Palestinian refugees.

This is, of course, not a deal at all. It’s an insult to the Palestinian people. Next came Donald Trump throwing both caution and international law to the wind by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. But it’s not just Israel, either. Yemen is on the brink of a major humanitarian disaster largely because the country is being blockaded by Saudi Arabia. The war in Yemen is only intensifying. Qatar is closer to Iran than ever. A final status deal between Israel and the Palestinians seems all but impossible now. The Lebanese prime minister went back on his resignation. And the Saudi state must be paying the Ritz-Carlton a small fortune to jail key members of the ruling family over allegations of corruption. But the Kushner-Salman alliance also represents something else. Both the US and Saudi Arabia are concentrating power into fewer and fewer hands. And with fewer people in the room, who will be around to tell these men that their ideas are so damaging? Who will dare explain to them how they already have failed?

Dialogue?

The position of US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia? Vacant. US Ambassador to Qatar? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Morocco? Vacant. US Ambassador to Egypt? Vacant.

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern affairs? Vacant. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy? Vacant. Kushner is running [and ruining] the entire US ME diplomatic operation.

This is what happens when a president with no governing experience appoints (nepotism) his inexperienced son-in-law to manage a huge and extremely volatile State Department portfolio.

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

Rogue Valley said:
Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

Dialogue?

The position of US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia? Vacant. US Ambassador to Qatar? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Morocco? Vacant. US Ambassador to Egypt? Vacant.

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern affairs? Vacant. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy? Vacant. Kushner is running [and ruining] the entire US ME diplomatic operation.

This is what happens when a president with no governing experience appoints (nepotism) his inexperienced son-in-law to manage a huge and extremely volatile State Department portfolio.

Well, let's see...

"The entire Middle East, from Palestine to Yemen, appears set to burst into flames after this week."

And yet, Iraq is celebrating the removal of ISIS.

"Kushner seems to have decided he can remake the entire Middle East,"

What makes anyone thing he's decided to do anything? I think it's more likely he's following his FiL's agenda.

"All the rest of the blah, blah, blah..."

I get the impression Moustafa Bayoumi leans toward the Palestinians. It's not surprising he would get heartburn over attempts to finally resolve this ongoing conflict...since it doesn't involve the destruction of Israel.

Anyway, Rogue Valley, why do we need people in those positions? What could they do? Spend taxpayer money?

code1211 · Dec 10, 2017

Rogue Valley said:
Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

Dialogue?

The position of US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia? Vacant. US Ambassador to Qatar? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Morocco? Vacant. US Ambassador to Egypt? Vacant.

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern affairs? Vacant. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy? Vacant. Kushner is running [and ruining] the entire US ME diplomatic operation.

This is what happens when a president with no governing experience appoints (nepotism) his inexperienced son-in-law to manage a huge and extremely volatile State Department portfolio.

Almost makes you wonder what US policies previously in place made the region so volatile.

CMPancake · Dec 10, 2017

Mycroft said:
Anyway, Rogue Valley, why do we need people in those positions? What could they do? Spend taxpayer money?

Are you implying the United States not providing Middle Eastern Nations US Ambassadors is a good financial decision?

Captain Adverse · Dec 10, 2017

Since Israel (at least overtly) is our ally, and currently one of the nine nations with nuclear capability, it stands to reason American policy will favor their interests in the Middle East.

I find it laughable in light of past and current history that anyone would argue some kind of "pre-Kushner stability" the Trump Administration is upsetting...when the area has been a hotbed of instability since the Ottoman Empire was dissolved.

Rexedgar · Dec 10, 2017

Gotta save money for the golf trips, don’tcha know?

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

CMPancake said:
Are you implying the United States not providing Middle Eastern Nations US Ambassadors is a good financial decision?

Cutting unnecessary costs is always a good financial decision...whether in personal, business or government finances.

CMPancake · Dec 10, 2017

Mycroft said:
Cutting unnecessary costs is always a good financial decision...whether in personal, business or government finances.

You've never traveled much outside of the United States, have you?

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

CMPancake said:
You've never traveled much outside of the United States, have you?

Oh...I have.

My first extended stay outside the US what when I was 12 years old...3 1/2 years in Japan. Throughout the decades since then, I've spent about ten more years living in foreign countries. That's "living"...not "visiting".

But I have to ask you: What does that have to do with my comment about financial decisions?

joG · Dec 10, 2017

Rogue Valley said:
Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

Dialogue?

The position of US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia? Vacant. US Ambassador to Qatar? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Morocco? Vacant. US Ambassador to Egypt? Vacant.

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern affairs? Vacant. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy? Vacant. Kushner is running [and ruining] the entire US ME diplomatic operation.

This is what happens when a president with no governing experience appoints (nepotism) his inexperienced son-in-law to manage a huge and extremely volatile State Department portfolio.

True. We have a wonderfully inexperienced and hopelessly inadequately qualified President with a very interesting personality. But that's the person the American voters elected to the job. He is only doing, what he had promised to do.

But The Guardian is anti American albeit more friendly towards liberals, whom they strictly support against conservatives. It would be highly astounding, if they published an article that didn't select and interpret information seemingly negative to Kushner. That is the problem with the present extreme partisanship of the media. The only way to go right now is to read the other side of the political divide to check out feasibility.

joG · Dec 10, 2017

Mycroft said:
Well, let's see...

"The entire Middle East, from Palestine to Yemen, appears set to burst into flames after this week."

And yet, Iraq is celebrating the removal of ISIS.

"Kushner seems to have decided he can remake the entire Middle East,"

What makes anyone thing he's decided to do anything? I think it's more likely he's following his FiL's agenda.

"All the rest of the blah, blah, blah..."

I get the impression Moustafa Bayoumi leans toward the Palestinians. It's not surprising he would get heartburn over attempts to finally resolve this ongoing conflict...since it doesn't involve the destruction of Israel.

Anyway, Rogue Valley, why do we need people in those positions? What could they do? Spend taxpayer money?

The thing is, Trump is disliked with the intensity of hate. There are a number of good and bad reasons for this. In the Arab world the good reason is that the political eltes have a strong vested interest in the frozen war and continuation of the hopelessness of Palestine. Without it the business model for their power structure disappears.

Rogue Valley · Dec 10, 2017

Captain Adverse said:
I find it laughable in light of past and current history that anyone would argue some kind of "pre-Kushner stability" the Trump Administration is upsetting...when the area has been a hotbed of instability since the Ottoman Empire was dissolved.

No one stated the Middle East was all rainbows and daisy's. What IS being stated is that Kushner & Co are making an already bad regional situation even worse. You must have somehow missed this sentence...

The region was already teetering on the edge, but recent events have only made things worse.

After almost a year in office, the Trump administration still has no US ambassadors in place in numerous ME capitals. Typical Trump incompetence.

Now Kushner is making sure the US is never again perceived in the ME as an honest I/P broker for a peace settlement.

An incompetent president allowing an incompetent son-in-law- to craft incompetent policy. Trump/Tillerson/Kushner ... the strategic Three Stooges.

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

Rogue Valley said:
No one stated the Middle East was all rainbows and daisy's. What IS being stated is that Kushner & Co are making an already bad regional situation even worse. You must have somehow missed this sentence...

After almost a year in office, the Trump administration still has no US ambassadors in place in numerous ME capitals. Typical Trump incompetence.

Now Kushner is making sure the US is never again perceived in the ME as an honest I/P broker for a peace settlement.

An incompetent president allowing an incompetent son-in-law- to craft incompetent policy. Trump/Tillerson/Kushner ... the strategic Three Stooges.

I guess you think...if you keep saying "incompetent" enough, eventually someone is going to be convinced like you are. LOL!!

For incompetent people, that trio has made more progress in the ME...in less than a year...than Obama or Bush, both of whom actually made things worse over there.

iguanaman · Dec 10, 2017

Mycroft said:
Oh...I have.

My first extended stay outside the US what when I was 12 years old...3 1/2 years in Japan. Throughout the decades since then, I've spent about ten more years living in foreign countries. That's "living"...not "visiting".

But I have to ask you: What does that have to do with my comment about financial decisions?

So you favor the military making all the foreign policy decisions instead of the State Dept.? The current gutting of State is leaving much of the world vacant of diplomacy leaving military options as the only remedy.

Fenton Lum · Dec 10, 2017

Rogue Valley said:
Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

Dialogue?

The position of US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia? Vacant. US Ambassador to Qatar? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Jordan? Vacant. US Ambassador to Morocco? Vacant. US Ambassador to Egypt? Vacant.

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern affairs? Vacant. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy? Vacant. Kushner is running [and ruining] the entire US ME diplomatic operation.

This is what happens when a president with no governing experience appoints (nepotism) his inexperienced son-in-law to manage a huge and extremely volatile State Department portfolio.

Surely you're mistaken, Jared's task is to bring peace to the middle east. America is committed to ongoing destabilization in the region at the behest of the Wall Street/donor/"job creator" class. Same as it ever was.

Rogue Valley · Dec 10, 2017

iguanaman said:
So you favor the military making all the foreign policy decisions instead of the State Dept.? The current gutting of State is leaving much of the world vacant of diplomacy leaving military options as the only remedy.

It's unbelievable how many US State Dept and Ambassadorship positions remain vacant.

Shows what happens when a CEO appoints another CEO to head State and then slashes its budget by 37%.

The Trump WH is Keystone Cops dysfunctional and the Trump administration is laughably incompetent.

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

iguanaman said:
So you favor the military making all the foreign policy decisions instead of the State Dept.? The current gutting of State is leaving much of the world vacant of diplomacy leaving military options as the only remedy.

I believe in the President setting the direction of foreign policy...so, in that respect, HE is the one who makes the decisions. Who carries out his directions, I'll leave up to the people best suited to do so. Who is that? Whomever the President decides is the best suited.

The one thing I DON'T like is a bloated State Department...or any other department or agency, for that matter...and, it seems, Tillerson and the President agree with me.

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

On the other hand, perhaps the ambassador vacancies are not all due to foot-dragging by Trump. Perhaps the Senate has something to do with it, eh?

Congress Stalling Trump Ambassadors, Harming U.S. Effort to Combat N. Korea, Conduct Diplomacy

rocket88 · Dec 10, 2017

Mycroft said:
On the other hand, perhaps the ambassador vacancies are not all due to foot-dragging by Trump. Perhaps the Senate has something to do with it, eh?

Congress Stalling Trump Ambassadors, Harming U.S. Effort to Combat N. Korea, Conduct Diplomacy

Need we remind you which party controls the Senate?

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

rocket88 said:
Need we remind you which party controls the Senate?

Your point is dismissed.

We've already seen many examples of Congressional GOP opposition to Trump. This is just another example.

ChezC3 · Dec 10, 2017

The Senate has to confirm appointees and have been less than prompt in performing this duty.

But, of course, for those people hell bent, Trump obviously should resign because of this.

:roll:

RetiredUSN · Dec 10, 2017

Rogue Valley said:
It's unbelievable how many US State Dept and Ambassadorship positions remain vacant.

Shows what happens when a CEO appoints another CEO to head State and then slashes its budget by 37%.

The Trump WH is Keystone Cops dysfunctional and the Trump administration is laughably incompetent.

Kerry and Hillary had millions of dollars in support.

Wanna go there?

Manc Skipper · Dec 10, 2017

Mycroft said:
Oh...I have.

My first extended stay outside the US what when I was 12 years old...3 1/2 years in Japan. Throughout the decades since then, I've spent about ten more years living in foreign countries. That's "living"...not "visiting".

But I have to ask you: What does that have to do with my comment about financial decisions?

Living on US military bases isn't the same as living in a country.

Manc Skipper · Dec 10, 2017

joG said:
True. We have a wonderfully inexperienced and hopelessly inadequately qualified President with a very interesting personality. But that's the person the American voters elected to the job. He is only doing, what he had promised to do.

But The Guardian is anti American albeit more friendly towards liberals, whom they strictly support against conservatives. It would be highly astounding, if they published an article that didn't select and interpret information seemingly negative to Kushner. That is the problem with the present extreme partisanship of the media. The only way to go right now is to read the other side of the political divide to check out feasibility.

So Kushner was tasked with solving the ME using only his realtor skills. Was has he done so far?

Mycroft · Dec 10, 2017

Manc Skipper said:
Living on US military bases isn't the same as living in a country.

I didn't always live on US military bases.

Look...if you have a point to make...make it. Otherwise, you are dismissed.

Jared Kushner is wreaking havoc in the Middle East

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