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Middle Eastern Autocrats Embarrassed Biden at Will
The Atlantic ^ | 21 July, 2022 | Shadi Hamed

Posted on 07/21/2022 7:12:58 PM PDT by anthropocene_x

Joe Biden’s much-touted trip to the Middle East—his first as president—produced no significant deliverables. To be underwhelmed, however, is to miss a more troubling story. The visit may have been pointless and performative, but it was also a major setback for American interests, confirming what many long suspected: Supposed allies can disrespect, embarrass, and undermine the United States at will.

The costs are already evident. On Saturday, less than 24 hours after Biden left the region, the United Arab Emirates sentenced an American citizen, Asim Ghafoor, to three years in prison on nebulous charges. Ghafoor, a lawyer for the slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, was detained only two days prior while transiting through Dubai International Airport.

In effect, the leaders of the UAE either are taunting Biden or are indifferent to the perception that they are taunting him. Autocrats test the limits to see how far they can go, only to find that such a limit doesn’t exist.

In the misplaced hope of easing gasoline costs at home, the American president felt he needed to go to MBS to ask him to boost oil production. One cannot overstate just what an odd and unwarranted reversal of the balance of power this was. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are, to use an impolitic term, client states. In other words, they depend on American power for their security and survival. Their armies would be grounded in short order if the United States were to suspend all military provisions.

Emboldened and unaccountable, Saudi Arabia is behaving recklessly, including in the realm of foreign policy. The ever-expanding list of examples includes attempting to cozy up to China, kidnapping the Lebanese prime minister, fueling the long-running war in Yemen, and supporting the side opposite the U.S. in Libya’s proxy battles.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Cheese, Moose, Sister; Gardening
KEYWORDS: asimghafoor; biden; ccp; china; concerntroll; districtofcolumbia; hamas; iran; jamalkhashoggi; journalistsforjihad; lebanon; libya; mediawingofthednc; mullahloversonfr; muslimbrotherhood; saudiarabia; shadihamed; theatlantic; theatlanticsucks; uae; unitedarabemirates; washingtoncompost; washingtonpost; yemen
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1 posted on 07/21/2022 7:12:58 PM PDT by anthropocene_x
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To: anthropocene_x

Arabs respect power—see how they treated Trump? Now see how they handle fist-bump Biden?


2 posted on 07/21/2022 7:19:31 PM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade ( Ride to the sound of the Guns!)
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To: anthropocene_x

When The Atlantic besmirches the Cadaver, the show is over and they’re sweeping up the popcorn and mopping the sticky Coca-Cola spills.


3 posted on 07/21/2022 7:21:46 PM PDT by Migraine ( )
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To: anthropocene_x

The Atlantic is as lefty as it comes, JoeK Bimentia is is dead man walking.


4 posted on 07/21/2022 7:22:28 PM PDT by DAC21
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To: anthropocene_x

Your excerpt did not give any examples of taunting POTUS Potato per the thread title.


5 posted on 07/21/2022 7:23:34 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: anthropocene_x
In the misplaced hope of easing gasoline costs at home, the American president felt he needed to go to MBS to ask him to boost oil production.


6 posted on 07/21/2022 7:30:56 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“...see whether we in our day and generation may not perform something worthy to be remembered.”)
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To: Deaf Smith

On Saturday, less than 24 hours after Biden left the region, the United Arab Emirates sentenced an American citizen, Asim Ghafoor, to three years in prison on nebulous charges


7 posted on 07/21/2022 7:34:20 PM PDT by freespirit2012
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To: DAC21

I just had this discussion with Mr. FF. I agree with you. Joe’s dead to them.

Wish I could read the whole article. Apparently I’ve used up my complimentary articles. Who knew? Rarely do I read The Atlantic.


8 posted on 07/21/2022 7:39:12 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I wish “smart resume” would work for the real world so I could FF through the Burden admin BS.)
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To: DAC21

“JoeK Bimentia is is dead man walking.“

Not yet, the wall is holding. Every “news” network is still in full protect Biden mode. Look at the massive corruption Hunter revealed in the laptop. There has been not a single story on a single network, not one except FNC.


9 posted on 07/21/2022 7:44:35 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: anthropocene_x

But we all agree, there are no mean tweets.

But then again, I seriously doubt Dim Joe knows what twitter is.


10 posted on 07/21/2022 7:51:15 PM PDT by Tupelo (Don't under estimate the Republicans ability to f*** things up)
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To: Deaf Smith

Trump was met at the airport by the King as well as the crown prince. SLO Joe was met by a mayor of a small town.


11 posted on 07/21/2022 7:52:22 PM PDT by McGavin999 (To shut down the border tell the administration the cartel is smuggling Ivermectin )
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To: McGavin999; anthropocene_x

Noob poster needs to post the meat and not the salad for hits.


12 posted on 07/21/2022 8:03:26 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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At least there are no mean tweets


13 posted on 07/21/2022 8:21:16 PM PDT by dsrtsage ( Complexity is just simple lacking imagination)
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To: FamiliarFace

you could try deleting your Atlantic cookies... sometimes works for me at other sites


14 posted on 07/21/2022 8:56:49 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14/12 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15/12 - 1030am - Obama team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: PghBaldy

Ok thx.


15 posted on 07/21/2022 9:09:48 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I wish “smart resume” would work for the real world so I could FF through the Burden admin BS.)
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To: Migraine

Never heard him called The Cadaver, but it’s a brilliant name. LMAO


16 posted on 07/21/2022 9:14:51 PM PDT by Veto! (FJBsucksrocks)
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To: Migraine

Boy, no kidding


17 posted on 07/21/2022 9:17:01 PM PDT by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

That’s some funny stuff right there

Sadly.........😟😞😔


18 posted on 07/21/2022 9:27:07 PM PDT by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
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To: anthropocene_x

Our elite oligarchs didn’t know how to handle MBS’s (Mortgage Backed Securities) then or MBS now.


19 posted on 07/21/2022 9:28:49 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (This is not a tagline.)
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To: anthropocene_x

Why would they bother embarrassing Biden? He does it all by himself any time he’s in public...


20 posted on 07/21/2022 9:48:12 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
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