Posted on 08/16/2015 8:37:16 AM PDT by jimbo123
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Sunday that Saudi Arabia is not properly compensating America for its diplomatic partnership.
Trump called on Riyadh to share its vast wealth with the U.S. in exchange for the alliance between the two nations. “They make a billion dollars a day,” he told host Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“Saudi Arabia, if it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t be here,” Trump said. “They wouldn’t exist.”
“They should pay us,” he added. “Like it or don’t like it, people have backed Saudi Arabia. What I really mind though is we back it at tremendous expense. We get nothing for it.”
Trump argued on Sunday that global economics is shifting the balance of power away from Saudi Arabia.
“The primary reason we are with Saudi Arabia is because we need the oil,” he said. “Now, we don’t need the oil so much.”
“And, if we let our people really go, we wouldn’t need the oil at all,” Trump said of America’s energy economy. “And we could let everybody else fight it out.”
“Look, Saudi Arabia is going to be in big trouble pretty soon,” he added. “And they’re going to need help. I think Saudi Arabia is a major target, a major target.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
What we got was 9/11 by their terrorist monsters.
He’s right - we profit nothing by them.
Savage has long proposed that Mexico pay in oil daily for each of their citizens here illegally.
Our hospitals should be sending bills to Mexico instead of he US taxpayer. Then see how many they shove across the border if they had to pay us for the illegals health care.
We’re compensated: buying our bonds and other ways.
Not enough though.
We’re also compensated by oil users for protecting SA, again, not enough though.
I am worried one of these countries with huge money interest are going to have him ‘taken out’ just to shut him up
Whether or not he makes it to the Presidency
Since the end of World War II the United States has maintained the freedom of the seas. Even our enemy’s ships can go wherever they like. If it were not for the US Navy the seas would be divided up into little fiefdoms. China, Russia and other countries like Iran would mine or patrol various areas, like the Straits of Hormuz and Taiwan and prevent commerce or demand payment to let it pass.
It isn’t unreasonable for those countries who benefit to ask for some form of payment. Without the US Saudi Arabia would likely find the Straits and the Red Sea impassible to oil tankers. This will happen once Iran gets the bomb, which is why Saudi Arabia encouraged the deposing of Assad in Syria. They need a pipeline to the Mediterranean and Assad said, “Sure. Just pay me and stop encouraging my dissidents.” SA said, no. They then tried to depose him and failed. Now they’re desperate.
And Trump would be right.
He also said that Iraq should pay for what we did to liberate them... at least cost share... instead it is a pit for American lives, limbs and money.
The big contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan have not gone to US companies. They have gone to the chicoms, french and others....they can pay bribes because they are not encumbered by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. They are also not encumbered by taxes... they pay no taxes on foreign income... they have room in their economics to pay bribes.
He’s right again.
On the illegal immigration comments made today I may have to vote for him.
We gave the GOPe two big election wins and what did we get?
ObamaCare. Amnesty.
They did nothing.
At this point, could it get any worse?
If Trump has a 50% chance of sending the illegals back and securing our borders, it’s worth voting for him.
Without that we’ll lose EVERY election forever and the nation will be over. It’s an existential threat to the U.S. at this point.
I’m worried someone takes him out... could be any of many. Right or Left, foreign or domestic.
He looks like trouble for the powers that be if he is not one of them in sheep’s clothing. As for that? What have we got to lose?
“The primary reason we are with Saudi Arabia is because we need the oil,” he said. “Now, we don’t need the oil so much.”
“And, if we let our people really go, we wouldn’t need the oil at all,” Trump said of America’s energy economy. “And we could let everybody else fight it out.”
“Look, Saudi Arabia is going to be in big trouble pretty soon,” he added. “And they’re going to need help. I think Saudi Arabia is a major target, a major target.”
Yup, you are correct.
Something like 60 or 70% of Egypt’s GDP comes from the canal. The Red Sea ports are the Saudi’s answer to the whole Hormuz mess back when WE escorted tankers through the straits because there would be no insurance for cargoes otherwise.
The Saudi’s long for a pipeline outlet to the Med.
That’s it? That is our immense benefit from the Saudi’s? That the Dollar is the petro currency an not the Yuan or the Ruble or gold?
Next you are going to claim we have another immense benefit because the Saudi’s “let” us pay to build fabulous bases there to protect them and their oil so they can sell it to the world and hold us all by the throats.
With friends like that we sure as hell don’t need enemies!!!
The Shites have a bulls eye on the Sunnis and the Whabists backs. After the Iranian Mullas deal with the Jews the house of Sauid is next... maybe before the Jews.
In the strategic calculus Iran may figure that the Jews are stronger with Saudi than Saudi is with the Jews and so decapitate Saudi first.... they may be warped but they ain’t dumb.
you’re clueless.
You’ve also been doing some reading, along with me...
Your point on this is right on target....
What other pol would say that?
Dang. We will the Saudis that THEY pay for operations in Iraq. Totally fair.
This is why people like Trump.
Well, other than the petro dollar article can you cite three, two, one other immeasurable benefit to the relationship.
I’ll just ignore you and your inane retort until then.
I wonder what the world would be like today if America put its foot down when the Arabs began nationalizing the oil fields.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.