In his interview with 60 Minutes, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
tried to do some damage control on the assassination of Jamal
Khashoggi, and the ongoing war in Yemen. The focus ultimately was
brought back to the Saudis’ favorite topic, Iran.
The prince warned that there is still a danger of escalation with Iran, and called on the world to unite with “strong and firm action” against Iran, saying Iran would otherwise threaten world interests.
The prince further predicted that if the world doesn’t stop Iran, oil supplies will be cut off and oil prices will hit levels “we haven’t seen in our lifetimes,” a threat the Saudis have often used to convince the world to support their position.
At the same time, Iran is keen to sell oil abroad, but is prohibited by
the US, and Saudi policy certainly isn’t supporting keeping Iranian oil
flowing. This makes it harder for them to argue that they are on the
side of free flow of oil.
I have an ENTIRELY different take in the 60 Minutes interview. While blaming Iran, Saudi Arabia is urging “international community”, whoever that is, to “contain” Iran.
BUT — the comments he made on the damage, flow if oil, commerce, GDP of the area were NOT blamed on Iran, but what he thought would happen in the case of war. He wants peaceful resolution.
What he saud in summary:
1.
Iran is bad, because we and US say so, no proof needed.
2.
War would be very bad for the region (not to mention us)
3.
You big powers sort it out, this is geopolitical game, your problem. Contain Iran as US says,. Russia and China — if you do not like it, do not come to our address. Sort it out with US.
Saudis are our puppies. Made a lots of mess in the neighborhood. Barked every time we say so.
But then had their tail scorched— as Master’s fancy fire alarm did not work.
Now licking their wounds, hoping the problems just go away.
For Sure, the Saudis have created a delusional mess. But don’t all these problems flow from the wealth & hubris of the Saudis, or is it the U.S. and their regional pals egging them on??? These days, I presume, that when I say “The Saudis” I am talking about one man: MbS. Hasn’t the tone of the entire thrust of his ascension been that He is going to “Make Saudi Ababa Great” and drag it to fulfill it’s roll by doing what it thinks it should to fulfill the this calling by attacking Iran & Yemen. Oh yes, and let women drive. What a great leader…!!!!! Only problem is that the Saudis are just not up to the task. Their military with it’s rent a troop in field just don’t seem to show what is required. As a lesson of history mercenary, troops can’t be counted on to win the war. Worse for the Saudis, the Yenemis appear to have chosen the most high tech capabilities and employed them in a masterful push to deflate the Saudi hubris. I am very happy to see the David of the expensive mess the Saudis have created show them their Goliath place. Their mindset and mission being dangerously out of date and an exitential threat to themselves and their kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has no intrinsic problem with Iran – Saudi “hates” Iran for one reason only – they need to please Israel so that Wall Street and London will help the Saudis sell some of Aramco – the Saudis need the cash to diversify before the average Saudi goes hungry and revolts and throws the royal family out on their tails
Oil prices would come down with free flow of oil from Iran, from Venezuela, from Iraq, from Libya. Where the US is not shutting it down deliberately, the after effects of its wars of societal destruction shut it down anyway. Those are some of the world’s biggest oil deposits, and some of the cheapest to reach.
Don’t tell me the US wants cheap oil. It isn’t acting that way, and hasn’t for a very long time.
The US wants control of oil, and the countries you cited do not which to be controlled by the Great Satan.
Ergo, the US has a problem…
Any chance Rouhani will get an interview on 60 minutes? Or is that reserved for our staunch “allies” only?
You have to ask? Murray Rothstein d.b.a. Sumner Redstone makes those decisions, and if the CIA doesn’t approve of his decisions, it doesn’t air. That’s the status of “free press” in ‘Murica.
It was rhetorical.
I have a habit of replying without directly speaking to the poster. Sorry. I knew it was rhetorical.
Rouhani doesn’t need 60 minutes. While in U.S. he floored Chris Wallace on Fox, Amanpour on CNN and that hot woman on MSNBC.
This punk “royal” from Saudi Kafiristan should be before the ICC.
The Saudis are willing to sacrifice as many Americans as it takes to defeat Iran. If they were really serious about taking on Iran, they’d already be doing it.
You would think this crowd knows all about letting genies out of bottles. My $ are on Saudies suing for peace with the Houthis and paying reparations. I suppose we are another drone strike away.
It sounds like the Saudis want it all: permanent global animosity towards Iran that doesn’t quite cause all-out war, high oil prices with the Americans and other mercenaries ensuring most of their oil can reach market, and a longer time-line before all their easy oil is pumped dry. As long as America remains their stupid lap dogs and no one does anything drastic, it could work. It maximizes the value of the oil they have and invites others to subsidize Saudi security.
The only problem is, Iran isn’t going to sit idly by forever while they can’t sell their oil. Unless something big changes, Iran will never get relief from unilateral US economic war. So, something big will change.