President Trump continues to grapple with the uncomfortable situation surrounding the disappearance and likely murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, promising “severe punishment” if the Saudis are to blame, but also making a series of comments that show a reluctance to threaten traditional US-Saudi ties, and business relationships.
The $110 billion in arms deal with the Saudi kingdom are a big reason why Trump is so close to them, as selling arms has been a top administration priority. It is also the obvious place to cut amid a diplomatic crisis, though Trump has consistently opposed that idea.
Trump argues the US would “be punishing ourselves” if they lost the $110 billion deal, saying it would be “very foolish” to lose all that. He claims there are other options for punishing the Saudis, but is mum on what those are.
Analysts say that while this may further harm Saudi support in Congress, the administration is content to “sweep it under the rug,” so long as the Saudis continue to compensate them in the form of lucrative arms deals for politically well-connected US companies.
But it is OK for all the other countries to “Punish themselves” when they sanction Iran or Russia
I have a suggestion. Let’s blame Iran and put more sanctions on Iran (sarcasm)
Blessed be the peace makers .
Maybe sarcasm to you but just wait for it because it’s coming.
If Trump wants to please his Christian base He should sanction Sauda Arabia and give humanitiaren aid to Yemen right away . Drop sacks of raw grain in Areas where people are hungry with out requards to race , sex or political afilation . This is what a Christian moral country would do . instead of sending more weapons to Saudia Arabia
Dropping sacks of grain (and other foodstuff) in areas where people were hungry was done in the spring of 1945 in the Netherlands by using US B52 bombers.
Must have used a time machine, too, since the B52’s first flight was in 1952.
Well some these people do live in a time warp.
If we are punishing ourselves, that’s exactly what we should be doing. The US should have known at the time that these sales were an unethical bad idea, but purposely looked the other way to take the cash. It’s called doing the right thing, better late than never.
Trump obviously needs to adjust his priorities. He is basically saying that income to American arms contractors is more important than the lives of Yemen’s people.
Trump is supporting the Saudi Arabian genocide of Yemeni people. This is shameful.
At least he’s being honest.