Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud told CNN on Monday that the Saudi Kingdom opposes the US withdrawing troops from Iraq, even though Iraq’s parliament voted 170-0 to expel them.
Faisal says the Saudis believe that the US was crucial in defeating ISIS, and is a “reliable ally of the Kingdom.” He added the Saudis “work very well with President Trump” on regional security.
President Trump has already said he doesn’t intend to withdraw from Iraq, and has threatened sanctions on Iraq for even asking. There is also talk of establishing a semi-autonomous Sunni part of Iraq, which would doubtless be allied with the Saudis.
Iraq is concerned about being the site of a proxy war between the US and Iran. The Saudis, being Iran’s main regional rival, are very comfortable with the idea of the US and Iran fighting a war, especially in a country other than Saudi Arabia.
If Iraq kicks them out, would he be willing to host them?
“President Trump has already said he doesn’t intend to withdraw from Iraq, and has threatened sanctions on Iraq for even asking.”
Once more. This coming from a man whose cornerstone of his campaign was that he was against the invasion of Iraq.
Coming from a MAN? He is now a toy, and they have him over a barrel. To get Senate votes, he is forced to do what a handful of Republican Senators order him too. Are they doing it out of conviction? Not likely. Out of fear most likely. But it does not matter. He better do what he is told, or he will be out if the office, bankrupt and homeless.
Sure, they’ve turned him from being a principled man with integrity into a “toy”.
Hope you do not get me wrong. I do not believe he was ever a principled man. He was NY developer and investor in many a sordid things. This is what being a businessman means today. I am yet to find one not steeped into corruption that is totally legal in this country to corrupt practices that are borderline illegal. That is not the issue.
The issue is — Trump, his bid for presidency and the machine that is swallowing him. His bid for presidency — the one that bypassed both parties’ careful mechanisms for wetting candidates — was an anomaly. He picked issues no pre-approved candidate would touch, except in a pre-approved manner. Wars, de-industrialization, immigration, trade imbalances and lying media. These are the big five — and got electorate attention.
Trump, not being favorite of his own party underestimated his opponents, and underestimated US electorate,
Instead of transforming himself into an reasonable businessman — and articulating all five issues in a manner most Americans can understand and support, he failed. He was too absorbed by his opponents. and courting his base, that he forgot the power of his key issues. And never reached out to electorate. Just the opposite — his battling with his obvious detractors, forgot the cardinal tule — fight their MOTIVES, not the garbage thrown his way, He was convinced of his smarts — but without getting public on his side, he is fighting shadows, wasting energy, falling into traps.
Everything from peace overtures towards Korean settlement, to China trade negotiations , and Syria pullout has been turned into a circus and a perception that he is a bungler.
He is now a toy. A few Republican senators hold his fate in his hands. He has been transformed from a badly needed wrecking ball into a tool in the hands of his enemies.
With his inability to articulate anything worth listening to — as far as average citizen is concerned, chances of turning this around are slim.
He may get reelected if Democrats cannot get a campaign off the ground. But by then, he may as well stay as far as they are concerned.
The question is — will the war crazies salivate for a war on Iran, which may turn into a war against US by most other powers. Many of our allies may sit out a losing game. I am not convinced that we have too many adults in the halls of power to advocate restraint.
Saudis just want to insure that US keeps on provoking Iran from Iraqi territory, not theirs. Simple, short-termer thinking that embodies Saudi Arabia. But then, they were partners with US in propping up Caliphate in Iraq and part of Syria.
Doubt very much Us will succeed in carving Iraq in pieces.. Sunni tribes paid high price in their accepting Caliphate without resistance. Once they were taken, they had no more say and were plundered by ISIS management for the purpose of expanding into Syria and funding various anti-Assad Islamic militants. Somehow I doubt US will succeed in them voluntarily trying secession. In a clan dominated environment you just cannot find some students to pay to protest and demand Sunni secession.
Truth is that Saudis, IS (and all other off salafist off shoots before them) and even USA forces/intelligence agencies are the REAL proxies in a conflict between Iran and Israel + pro-zionists.