Saudi Arabia had viewed with unease the administration of US President Barack Obama, whom they felt considered Riyadh’s alliance with Washington less important than negotiating the Iran nuclear deal….The deputy crown prince viewed the nuclear deal as “very dangerous,” the senior adviser said, adding that both leaders had identical views on “the danger of Iran’s regional expansionist activities.”
Obama’s close and highly suspicious dealings with Iran include, in addition to the Iranian deal, as much as $33.6 billion in secret payments facilitated by the Obama administration, according to testimony provided before Congress. The Free Beacon also reported that the Obama Administration surrendered over $10 billion in gold, cash and other assets to Iran since 2013.
A senior adviser to Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman praised the meeting in a statement:
the meeting today restored issues to their right path and form a big change in relations between both countries in political, military, security and economic issues.
That glowing optimism may need to be toned down. Iran has earned its reputation as a rogue state, but Saudi Arabia is problematic too. Reports of a Saudi Arabia/Islamic State alliance have been ongoing, despite the so-called Saudi “friendship” with the West.
In 2010, Saudi Arabia was identified as “the single biggest contributor to the funding of Islamic extremism” and was said to be “unwilling to cut off the money supply.” Even Hillary Clinton, who — according to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange — has accepted Saudi donations, said “in a secret memorandum that donors in the kingdom still ‘constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide’ and that ‘it has been an ongoing challenge to persuade Saudi officials to treat terrorist financing emanating from Saudi Arabia as a strategic priority.'”
“SAUDI PRINCE: TRUMP A ‘STRONG PRESIDENT’ IN FIGHT AGAINST DANGEROUS IRAN”, Reuters, March 15, 2017:
WASHINGTON – Saudi Arabia hailed a “historical turning point” in US-Saudi relations after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman highlighted the two leaders’ shared view that Iran posed a regional security threat.
The meeting on Tuesday appeared to signal a meeting of the minds on many issues between Trump and Prince Mohammed, in a marked difference from Riyadh’s often fraught relationship with the Obama administration, especially in the wake of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
“This meeting is considered a historical turning point in relations between both countries and which had passed through a period of divergence of views on many issues,” a senior adviser to Prince Mohammed said in a statement.
“But the meeting today restored issues to their right path and form a big change in relations between both countries in political, military, security and economic issues,” the adviser said.
Saudi Arabia had viewed with unease the administration of US President Barack Obama, whom they felt considered Riyadh’s alliance with Washington less important than negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.
Riyadh and other Gulf allies see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washington’s role as their main strategic partner and help contain Riyadh’s adversary Iran in a region central to US security and energy interests, regional analysts said.
The deputy crown prince viewed the nuclear deal as “very dangerous,” the senior adviser said, adding that both leaders had identical views on “the danger of Iran’s regional expansionist activities.” The White House has said the deal was not in the best interest of the United States.
Iran denies interference in Arab countries.
PRAISE FOR TRUMP
The meeting was the first since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration with the prince, who is leading the kingdom’s efforts to revive state finances by diversifying the economy away from a reliance on falling crude oil revenues.
Under the plan, which seeks to promote the private sector and make state-owned companies more efficient, Riyadh plans to sell up to 5 percent of state oil giant Saudi Aramco in what is expected to be the world’s biggest initial public offering.
The two leaders, who discussed opportunities for US companies to invest in Saudi Arabia, kicked off their talks in the Oval Office posing for a picture in front of journalists.
US Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, chief of staff Reince Priebus and strategist Steve Bannon were also present at the Oval Office meeting with Prince Mohammed.
The meeting also appeared to illustrate support for some of the most contentious issues that Trump has faced since taking office on Jan. 20.
On a travel ban against six Muslim-majority countries, the adviser said Prince Mohammed did not regard it as one that was aimed at “Muslim countries or Islam.”
Earlier this month Trump signed a revised executive order on banning citizens from Yemen, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Libya from traveling to the United States but removed Iraq from the list, after his controversial first attempt was blocked in the court
Trump’s travel ban has come under criticism for targeting citizens of several mainly Muslim countries. The senior adviser said Prince Mohammed “expressed his satisfaction after the meeting on the positive position and clarifications he heard from President Trump on his views on Islam.”
The senior adviser said the leaders discussed the “successful Saudi experience of setting up a border protection system” on the Saudi-Iraq border which has prevented smuggling.
Trump has vowed to start work quickly on the barrier along the nearly 2,000-mile US-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigrants and drugs from crossing to the north….
Michael says
Closer relationship with a Sharia law country … I hope this can be done with a condemnation of Sharia law — or a statement that Sharia law is fine for you … it ain’t coming to America. Really, the only way to stop the jihad is to ban the Koran, mosques, and Sharia law in America. Ain’t gonna happen, of course. I don’t see any other way. We have to assume, by their own doctrine, that they are lying, deceiving, and doing anything and everything to co-opt religions and leaders and countries. Nothing they say is to be believed or trusted — again, by their own doctrine that encourages any means for spreading their control. They acknowledge they lie and deceive, and anything is okay to spread jihad. That seems a good underlying baseline for having any kind of relationship with any of them. ‘We understand you are going to lie to us, and use any means to subvert our country and government, including murder and any and all forms of violence.’
Am I missing something?
I understand the concept of keeping your enemies close. But does Trump realize the true nature of this enemy?
Terry Gain says
You are absolutely correct. We are doomed.
tom parry says
Correct , Bush should have invaded Saudi Arabia and freed its slaves.
I hope we can rcover but the picture does not look good
Doug P says
He does I’m sure, it’s the left we need to deal with right now(& rinos). Jihad is laying in wait having infiitrated us heavily in the last 8-10 yrs just waiting on the call.
underbed cat says
What happen to Steve Bannon, I assumed he knew the doctrine….but maybe not as well as is necessary. We are not in a good place if he does not grasp nor understand the deception. I certainly hope that the president has not been flipped, the doctrine is protected and silenced and denied by muslims.
blitz2b says
We have to understand that bashing Islam openly would be a political blunder…. There would be chaos abound, and unnecessary attention drawn towards Islam and Muslims while they play their victim card and take Islamophobia racket.
You see this tactic has worked very effectively in favor for Muslims in Canada, where an alleged mosque shooting by a French Canadian (probably a covert Muslim) led to a huge
propaganda on hatemongering against the “poor Muslims”. It was a ploy they played very well which resulted in an Islamophobia motion being passed immediately thereafter.
I’m pretty sure Trump, Banon, Pence, Kushner and the rest are all aware of the danger that Islam poses to the west, however it would be wise to keep such discussions behind closed doors and strategically plan moves to tighten the noose around the neck of Islamic expansionism in the west.
SweetOlBob says
LOOK OUT ! !
Pull yourself a wedgie or wear your cup backwards !
I would sooner trust a wasp not to sting me before I would trust a filthy muslim, especially a Saudi !
Jeanette says
Trump could not have built his business empire without having keen insight into the motives of other people. He certainly perceived the motives of Mexico and China, for instance.
I think he is being forced to handle certain issues in ways that are not his preferred ways because of the anti-American, pro-Muslim, pro-communist liberals.
Michael says
Jeanette, I agree with you. Contrary to the liberals’ assessment of him … he’s smarter than hell. He’s no one’s fool, including Saudi Arabia’s. He’s stepping into a mess with gigantic and profound implications and consequences. He is our only real hope in all of this … at least at this level. At the local level, it becomes us who have to do the pushing back.
Terry Gain says
Non-Muslims, of which I am one, are morons when it comes to Islam. If Islam is a religion and the Establishment Clause prevents the banning of Muslims, then inevitably America will become a Muslim country.
Michael says
I like to hope that actual thinking, aware minds might come to the forefront. A religion which has as its explicit goal, the domination of the world, and the death and/or submission (along with taxes, of course, for the privilege of being alive) … that prescribes death, lying, everything under the sun to destroy all non-believers … is this a ‘religion’? Or sedition? Sounds like sedition to me … masquerading under ‘religion.’ But very few understand the real nature of this enemy.
Jeanette says
It meets all the qualifiers of a cult.
As long as Americans are willing to protect it by insisting that it is a religion, we’ll never get control of it in this country, and neither will America serve as an example of how to get rid of Islam.
davej says
Exploiting it’s status as a “religion” is the frosting and secret sauce that enables Islam to build ever more tax exempt Mosques and Madrassas in the US. They love our freedom of speech and religious tolerance so they can preach Sharia and claim discrimination. Without that status they would be just another cult or criminal gang.
We need to clearly declare Islam to be a seditious, hateful organization that is illegal in the USA.
Terry Gain says
If America fails to declare that, it will fall to Islam.
Jeanette says
Research the qualifiers for an organization to be labeled as a cult.
Islam meets every one of those qualifiers, including one that most cults do not – human sacrifice.
Then start spreading that information everywhere you can.
If we can ever get Islam re-labeled from “religion” to “cult” we will have the first real chance ever to get rid of it, at least in this country.
The Mayor says
There is no clause in our Constitution that requires us to commit suicide, Terry, so, there are ways to get around the Establishment Clause, such as establishing the fact of the clear and present dangers that adherents of islam are introducing into our nation.
Blurb1000 says
I’m not sure this Saudi Clown is a Jedi warrior or a jihad warrior. Maybe both?
gravenimage says
Saudi prince hails Trump as “strong President” in fight against “dangerous” Iran
…………………..
In other words, the Sunni Saudis are hoping to use our president against their Shia rivals. They are not actually opposed to Jihad and Shari’ah themselves, needless to say.
Mark Swan says
That is it gravenimage, you got it right.
gravenimage says
Let’s hope Trump proves them wrong.
Mark Swan says
I am rooting for him, when so much effort is poured out against one man, he has my respect.
He has the weight of the world on his shoulders, seems to suit him, even.
He has the heart of an American President (Lion-Like Potential).
Custos Custodum says
Complete this analogy:
Scylla is to Charybdis as Saudi Arabia is to ____
gravenimage says
Good one, Custos. The answer would, of course, be “Iran”. They are not much different, and neither are our friends.
Custos Custodum says
Thank you.
Allan Mandrowski says
Ah yes, because Saudi Arabia isn’t dangerous although 90% of terror, including the Twin Towers are committed by Saudi schooled Wahabi Sunni muslims.
Terry Gain says
This Saudi BS worked with low IQ Bush. It remains to be seen whether it will work with Trump.
Jeanette says
Hillary wins the Low IQ Prize.
She is a woman, with a daughter and a granddaughter, who nonetheless persists in supporting Muslims unconditionally to the point that she kept in her employment a woman whose mother was (and probably still is) writing and publishing books promoting Muslim genital mutilation of all female human beings on this planet.
mortimer says
An alliance between Iran and Saudi Arabia for purposes of jihad cancel much of the alliance the US.
Iran and KSA are the two main sources of terrorism in the world.
Peter says
Now, if only our “strong president” would deal with “dangerous” Saudi Arabia, and all the other regimes (Qatar, Kuwait, Pakistan, Sudan, etc.) that foment anti-non-Muslim hatred and violence (“Infidelphobia”) worldwide, not just against “the West” but “the Rest of Humanity.”
Custos Custodum says
There are quiescent border disputes between the Saudis and their brother monarchs along the Persian (!) Gulf, to say nothing of centuries-old rivalries among Arab tribes and decades of Iranian/Shia subversion.
Angemon says
I wonder if this prince realizes that Trump isn’t as permeable to petrol-dollars as Hillary or Obama?… Trump, unlike those two, was a billionaire before getting into politics. The Saudis gave Hillary 20 million? Trump paid almost twice as that in taxes back in 2005 (thank you Rachel “It’s Not A Crime When I Do It” Maddow!)
Paul M says
Saudi Arabia is Shia.
Iran is Sunni.
That’s it, that’s all there is to it. All of the unrest in the middle east comes down to the current war between the islamic versions of Catholic and Protestant.
If it weren’t for oil, we could just leave them to it. Bring on the renewables!
awake says
Reverse it, and you would be correct. I am not at all convinced that Trump will be a puppet for the house of sand. We don’t need their petrodollars. We don’t want their culture.
Trump can’t even get off the ground to date in the US with his travel ban from Muslim countries wholly without definable governments, yet he is expected to alienate the Saudis on day one?.
The art of diplomacy is lost on you. Iran must be crushed, via sanctions and well-placed air strikes from Israel as it is in both party’s best interests.
Then and only then, can The Sauds be cowed. Assad is too compromised already to challenge Trump, thanks to Obama’s material and ideological support for “ISIL” as that desire to overthrow another Muslim despot only created the current enemy, which every sentient person refers to as ISIS.
Remember, Reagan could not have destroyed Russia without facilitating the Iran/Iraq war in the 1980’s.
In hindsight, empowering Bin Laden is Reagan’s zeal against the Russians in Afghanistan was a poor choice, but then again, nobody’s perfect, eh?
Terry says
Awake–you are basically correct ( in my view).
Israel and the Saudis and one or more of the Gulf States have an unofficial “alliance” against Iran.
———————————————————————————————————————————–
Another point– GOING BACK TO WIKILEAKS AND OBAMA AND THE DEMS.
There was no problem in Washington, with WikiLeaks WHEN THE FIRST BATCHES ALL WERE NEGATIVE ABOUT GEORGE W. BUSH.
Then, when Obama was critical of Israel for settlements, and he (Obama) said something to the effect that the Muslims and (I beleive, not sure-specifically mentioned the Saudis) were vehemently opposed to the settlements.
Then the WikiLeaks had the emails and other correspondence between the US Ambassador to S. A., the Saudi government and the US. AND THE EMAILS TOTALLY–100% IGNORED THE “PALESTINIANS”, SETTLEMENTS AND ISRAEL DOING WHATEVER. WAS STRICTLY AGAINST ANYTHING TO DO WITH IRAN.
THIS WAS A FEW YEARS BEFORE THE IRAN NUCLEAR FIASCO.
This infuriated the Dems and lefties (mostly the same) and the lame stream media against WikiLeaks. they dared to expose their hero.
awake says
And, I might add, your analogy is asinine.
J. MacDonald says
Dec1941:
FDR did not say “everybody back to normal” after pearl harbour (like whimp George w did after 911).
I am a Canadian and my 1/2 German uncle died fighting the Luftwaffe 1yr before the yanks finally helped out (and God love those B17s!, P51s!).
There was no ’43 chevs or fords!
There should NEVER HAVE BEEN ANY 2003 Fords! Only B2s & drones!
Why the f**k is saidi gov’t still in existence???
J. MacDonald says
You can blame osamabama slithery Hillary,
I BLAME GEORGE W PUSS!!
Saudi hit us on 911,
No nukes req’d (we are not dealing with real, tough enemies like Japanese or Germans),
Just drones & toilet paper, they’ll be so happy to have the latter, they’ll surrender unconditionally!!
Terry says
It was Saudi people- not the government.
Janet Reno, led to the murder of numerous people (Ruby Ridge; Branch Davidson; probably others). Was a native born Floridian.
That does not mean that ALL FLORIDIANS OR ALL AMERICANS are killers.
And SHE REPRESENTED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT- AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.
They kill terrorists. They do not release them (as does the US) or make them into heroes (as does Iran)
gravenimage says
Terry wrote:
It was Saudi people- not the government.
…………………….
Not exactly, Terry:
“Confirmed: Top Saudi Officials Aided the 9/11 Jihad Plot”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/07/confirmed-top-saudi-officials-aided-the-911-jihad-plot
I’m afraid Saudis at the highest levels were involved.
More:
They kill terrorists. They do not release them (as does the US) or make them into heroes (as does Iran)
…………………….
They sometimes go after Jihadists who are specifically trying to topple the Saudi regime, but that’s it. I’m afraid your idea that Saudi Arabia ideologically opposes Jihad terror is mistaken.
Saudi Arabia regularly funds Jihad and the Mosques and Madrassas that teach it.
Saudi Arabia is a thoroughly Islamic state, that oppresses women and Infidels, persecutes “witches”, and beheads those accused of adultery.
Harry says
Terrorism:-
Saudi Arabia is the head of the snake.
berserker says
The wonderful House of Saud. For reasons, I do not understand the West has decided to fight on the side of the Sunnis, in the Sunni-Shia civil war within Islam. I suspect it has something to do with Israel.
– In other words, we are in bed with the worst of the lot.
gravenimage says
The idea that Israel would somehow be pro-Sunni makes no sense. Both Sunnis and Shia want to slaughter Jews.
mortimer says
“DANGEROUS IRAN” holds the same JIHAD DOCTRINE as “DANGEROUS KSA”.
gravenimage says
+1
Jeanette says
Regardless of what any Saudi says, the Saudis still follow a book that commands them to kill us, and allows slavery and/or murder of everyone who won’t join their Club Heinous.
Isn’t that all we need to know?
gravenimage says
Yes.
Terry says
Years (perhaps 10 or so) the late King Abdullah was in New York City, at St Vincent’s Hospital, for some minor surgery.
One night, talking to a nurse or orderly, he ( the king) was told that St. Vincent’s might have to close- large budget gap; needed repairs and updating, etc.
Hospital employee was asked, about how much money was needed. He 9or she-don’t recall) said about $20 million or so. The king said, done. Within a few days, the saudi Government wired 20 million or possibly a little more,to St Vincent’s.
And, he paid for his medical treatment
gravenimage says
I’m afraid this does not mean that Saudi Muslims are benignant.
gravenimage says
Spot on, RCH.
Guest says
Don’t get to praising your majesty. Trump has allowed mor oil rigs in the Gulf coast. We won’t be doing much business with you in the future.