Posted on 02/10/2011 3:35:46 AM PST by Scanian
Saudi Arabia has threatened to prop up embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak if the Obama administration tries to force a swift change of regime in Egypt, The Times of London reported Thursday.
In a testy personal telephone call on Jan. 29, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah reportedly told President Obama not to humiliate Mubarak and warned that he would step in to bankroll Egypt if the U.S. withdrew its aid program, worth $1.5 billion annually.
America's closest ally in the Gulf made clear that the Egyptian president must be allowed to stay on to oversee the transition towards peaceful democracy and then leave with dignity.
"Mubarak and King Abdullah are not just allies, they are close friends, and the King is not about to see his friend cast aside and humiliated," a senior source in the Saudi capital told The Times.
Two sources confirmed details of the King's call, made four days after the people of Egypt took to the streets.
The revelation of Saudi concerns sheds new light on America's apparent diplomatic paralysis and lays bare the biggest rift between the nations since the oil price shock of 1973.
The tough line from Riyadh is driven by concern that Western governments were too eager to shove aside Mubarak when the uprising began, without proper consideration of what should follow him.
"With Egypt in chaos, the kingdom is Washington's only major ally left in the Arab world and the Saudis want the Americans to remember that," said a source in Riyadh.
The White House declined to comment on the reports Wednesday, saying that the administration did not divulge what other leaders said to Obama.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Guess that transparency thing is not working out for bambi.
Our Muslim President is all wee weed up ....
I guess you should not talk that way to Obama, or he'll go Chicago on you. Even if he does bow to you.
bfl
Looks like the Saudi’s schooled our boy president. How embarrassing that he flaps his mouth at the drop of a hat, and then has to eat his words.
With BO, Hillary, Biden and Wizner all singing a different tune, this is the most glaring example of incompetence we have had in foreign policy in decades. Fortunately for him, the lapdog media is spinning like mad to help him cover up this total failure.
“Mubarak and King Abdullah are not just allies, they are close friends, and the King is not about to see his friend cast aside and humiliated,” a senior source in the Saudi capital told The Times. “
I agree that Mubarak should go until a transitional government is in place to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood from co-opting the revolution - but go he must. The guy made a fortune of his Presidency and ran his country like a private fiefdom.
Aside from that, this statement of bald power from the Saudis is most unsettling. My strong feelings are that the tentacles of Wahhabist influence in Washington run very deeply - and not just in this administration. Their influence is insidious and intolerable.
In light of the recent statements from Rumsfeld to the effect that they were mistaken and Saddam did NOT have weapons of mass destruction, I wonder if our decision to take him out was influenced by those very people who had the most to gain from a regime change in Iraq - the Saudis.
Not surprised that once again the Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Network raises the specter of us losing our “only major ally left in the Arab world”. Maybe the Mohammedan dogs in Saudi would like to face Iran (or even their own people) all alone. Why anyone pays any attention to Fox is beyond me.
Is that how we describe Saudi Arabia?
This will be one of the first times, I am on the sides of the Saudis!
The great leader, nobama, humiliates him self by existing. What a clueless putz who purposefully destroys what he touches.
Obama is NOT clueless. He wanted RADICAL BROTHER MUSLIM BS in power in Egypt. The Saudi's told him to back off as they are not that radical. The Saudis realize that they will be hung right along with the Jews if it all comes crashing down.
Obama is a traitor who wants Muslims in power to destroy Isreal, then destroy America internally with Mosques everywhere you look.
“The guy made a FORTUNE from his Presidency and ran his country like a private fiefdom???”
On that basis, 65% of the politicians at all levels in THIS country should be in jail. Maybe more.
Mubarak has been running Egypt like he was royalty. The House of Saud runs Arabia the same way. Obviously, they would feel close.
Egypt rebelling against Mubarak would give too many Saudis ideas of doing likewise. The House of Saud cannot permit this. Faced with an existential threat, they would be willing to collapse the world economy if that's what it took to get the West to cooperate.
“I wonder if our decision to take him out was influenced by those very people who had the most to gain from a regime change in Iraq - the Saudis.”
It’s been easy to blame Obama for the mess in the ME and for muslim influence but there has been Saudi/Arab/Muslim influence for years through oil blackmail. It needs to stop NOW!
And I wouldn’t doubt that the real reason we don’t drill our own oil is because of Saudi oil blackmail!
I say once more, he does not have it. way out of his ball game.....
The Saudis would take over the US aid committment to Egypt ?
What a good idea !
Barry is once again way over his head. He just can’t seem to keep his momentum, or for that matter keep the masses fooled into thinking he has things under control.
Barry once again bows to his king.
"Barry? It's Abby. Look, you lay off Mooby or I'll take back that bling I gave you in 2009, you dig? I made you, I can unmake you, and put your commie ass right back in Mobassa where I found you."
and warned that he would step in to bankroll Egypt if the U.S. withdrew its aid program, worth $1.5 billion annually.
What sort of threat is that?
Do it!
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