My latest in PJ Media:
Saudi Arabia can hardly be classified as a totally reliable ally of the United States, particularly given lingering questions about the extent of its involvement at the highest levels in the 9/11 jihad attacks. However, it is a notable bulwark against Iran in the region, and so many on both sides of the aisle see the utility of the American alliance with the kingdom. That group, however, apparently does not include Old Joe Biden’s handlers. Over the last few weeks, they have quietly removed an advanced missile defense system from Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that the Saudis are suffering ongoing air attacks from the Houthis in Yemen, who are clients and proxies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
It’s hard to see this move anything but yet another attempt to appease the mullahs in Tehran, who so far have not been moved by Biden’s handlers’ many overtures to soften their harsh anti-American rhetoric. Pentagon spinmeister John Kirby, however, said nothing about the Islamic Republic as he admitted to “the redeployment of certain air defense assets”; instead, he insisted that the American commitment to its allies in the Middle East remained “broad and deep.”
Kirby added: “The Defense Department continues to maintain tens of thousands of forces and a robust force posture in the Middle East representing some of our most advanced air power and maritime capabilities, in support of U.S. national interests and our regional partnerships.” Right. Now what’s this about leaving Saudi Arabia without a missile defense system in the face of ongoing attacks from Iranian proxies in Yemen? For some reason, Kirby didn’t address that.
The Saudis put a brave face on it all as well. The Saudi Defense Ministry issued a statement hailing its relationship with the U.S. as “strong, longstanding and historic” and assuring the world that even without American help, the Saudi military “is capable of defending its lands, seas and airspace, and protecting its people. The redeployment of some defense capabilities of the friendly United States of America from the region is carried out through common understanding and realignment of defense strategies as an attribute of operational deployment and disposition.”
Righto. Unfortunately for the Saudi Defense Ministry, however, the former director of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence services, Prince Turki al-Faisal, was less sanguine about the withdrawal of the missile defense system. “I think we need to be reassured about American commitment,” he said. “That looks like, for example, not withdrawing Patriot missiles from Saudi Arabia at a time when Saudi Arabia is the victim of missile attacks and drone attacks — not just from Yemen, but from Iran.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
gravenimage says
Bent on Appeasing Iran, U.S. Quietly Removes Missile Defense System from Saudi Arabia
…………..
I am no fan of Saudi Arabia, but this is at least a defensive system–what possible rational reason can there be for our removing it?
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
what possible rational reason can there be for our removing it?
The same kind of thinking that went into the Afghanistan withdrawal. It’s been apparent that the election was rigged several weeks before Nov 3. Elections have consequences. Stolen elections have horrible consequences. Trump had the right formula for dealing with Iran, and that’s gone now. We’ve set the table for a mighty feast, and it won’t be good people doing the dining.
william Shackelford says
The election was NOT stolen.
peter says
Biden seems to be serving two masters one is Taliban and Iran Mullahas . God save America from this cowardly traitor !
Peacelover says
cowardly traitor – agree!
Janetmarie says
Biden has one interim master:
Obama
who has one master:
soros
obama is a Shiite Muslim as are the iranians
Saudi Arabia is of the Sunni sect of Muslims.
We are funding the global caliphate war.
william Shackelford says
Obama is NOT a Shiite Muslim. No Shiite would ever grant his wife sufficient freedom to dress and act with the classy first lady Michelle Obama was. Granted, Obama devoted far too much time trying to convince America and the world that Islam is a wonderful religion of peace, but he was not a Shiite. While he claims to be a Christian, he is actually a humanist: he believes in “humans” – not otherworldly religion. Does he have the courage to declare that? – Nope. i
Robert Schwartzman says
When push comes to shove, all the states signing Abraham Accords with Israel will turn on Israel if sufficiently threatened by Iran. The USA, on its current trajectory of capitulation and diplomacy rather than leverage, will never confront Iran militarily and won’t even reimpose economic sanctions.
william Shackelford says
Sad but true Robert. Well said.
Westman says
Does anyone else sense the price of oil increasing? Is this an opportunity for a defense pact between SA and Israel?
Infidel says
Price of oil has been increasing thanks to Biden abolishing the Keystone pipeline and putting bans on fracking and ANWR. Voting Democrat will do that to us
James Lincoln says
Correct, Infidel.
Think about it: energy independence under Pres. Trump, now Sleepy Joe begs OPEC to pump more oil.
Frank Anderson says
IF, purely speculative, IF the US government has been giving cover to SA participating in 9/11, what reason exists to continue participating in SA defense? How much has been sold to SA in 20 years? Should they not have their own batteries? And If they don’t why can’t they buy or build them?
Then again, as long as the US has bases (targets) in the region, should not those bases have priority for US batteries?
The point is that the standard, universal, orthodox, muslim doctrine that no promise to any infidel, worthless kafir, is binding when it becomes more convenient to break it. With this collaborative administration, by accident and certainly not intent, something may be going on that helps protect US citizens and interests. But don’t tell anybody.
Jim says
They should remove the security around Biden’s mansions and the WH if walls and defenses do not matter.
OLD GUY says
I’am no fan of Saudi Arabia, they and their citizens have been pushing radical islam around the world. American universities are loaded with Saudi cash, islamic student unions, muslim studies and professors spreading islamic propaganda. If this missile defense system protected our military and bases that stabilize the area, pulling out maybe a big mistake.
Infidel says
I see this partly as payback for Saudi Arabia refusing to drive OPEC to lower oil prices after gasoline prices shot up, although this started w/ Biden cancelling the various arms deals that we had w/ the Saudis
In a way, it’s good: it forces the Saudis to be less reliant on us. Recent projects in Saudi Arabia have been deemphasizing islam, and the Saudis have grown tired of the muslim panhandlers around them (like Pakistan) who demand their charity b’cos… islam! The more we have other countries not doing what we want, the more it forces us to not undo sensible policies that worked just a year ago!
PRCS says
Test.