I disagree about Saddam. Iraq is a lot less safer now than under that particular “strongman”. And if you’re worried about Iran they now have more influence than ever in Iraq.
‘I could care less about the Muslim reaction.’
This is the problem and why we’re losing elections, you have to pay attention to what Muslims think. Please don’t be so arrogant that’s what is hurting us. We cannot afford to lose another fast growing voting block to the left forever.
Best interests served in supporting that horrible regime in SA? Give me a break... They export the most brutal and radical version of Wahhibism through support of building mosques and other activities. It’s also their state religion. 15 of the hijackers on 9/11 were saudi’s.
If the US stopped buying their oil and closed its bases there the regime would collapse because people are fed up of unemployment and the criminals in charge stealing everything.
I saw your reply re: immigration and will read it later, thanks for taking the time to respond even if we may disagree..
you stated..........”you have to pay attention to what Muslims think. Please don’t be so arrogant that’s what is hurting us. We cannot afford to lose another fast growing voting block to the left forever.”............
Come on...are you saying we lost the election because of the Muslim vote?....Further that we need to pay attention to them?????
Disagree all you like, but the removal of Saddam served the strategic interests of the US and our allies in the region. The Iraqis were given an opportunity at democracy. We will see how the elections turn out, but there are real elections. Whether internal conditions are less safe or not is not the measure of our foreign policy. I can tell you that our interests are better off.
As far as Iran is concerned, they have their own internal problems. I don't see them exercising hegemony over Iraq anytime soon. They will continue to support the Sh'ia in Iraq, which will be divisive. And the Kurds have always sought autonomy and independence. Our biggest mistake was not negotiating a SOFA so we could have maintained a presence there during the transition. Obama deserves all the blame for squandering our huge investment there in terms of resources and blood.
‘I could care less about the Muslim reaction.’ This is the problem and why we’re losing elections, you have to pay attention to what Muslims think. Please don’t be so arrogant that’s what is hurting us. We cannot afford to lose another fast growing voting block to the left forever.
I was stating this in the conduct of our foreign policy. We cannot allow Muslim reaction, whether in the US or elsewhere prevent us from protecting our national interests. In the case of Iraq, many Muslim countries in the region supported our actions either overtly or covertly. They all wanted Saddam out. They considered him a major threat.
Your obsession with the tiny Muslim voting bloc in the US is laughable. Yes, they voted for BARACK HUSSEIN Obama, who was born of a Muslim father and attended Muslim schools in Muslim Indonesia. He was also adopted by a Muslim father. Do you think those connections may have affected some of their votes?
Best interests served in supporting that horrible regime in SA? Give me a break... They export the most brutal and radical version of Wahhibism through support of building mosques and other activities. It’s also their state religion. 15 of the hijackers on 9/11 were saudi’s.
That "horrible regime" has served US interests in the region and elsewhere in ways most people are unaware. I lived five years in the Kingdom including during the entire Gulf War. They supported us in that war as well as assisting us when the Russians occupied Afghanistan and in Central America. They have helped stabilize oil production to lower the price of oil. We have used them as surrogates in many places.
The Saudi Royal family pursues its own foreign policy and interests, but some of those interests coincide with ours. That is what foreign policy is all about. It is not about black and white but shades of gray.
The Saudis walk a fine line when it comes to Islam. They have to with two out of the three holiest places in Islam being in the Kingdom. It is why the King't title is "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques." I find you little tirade against Wahhbism to be ironic--you who want all of us to be more sensitive to Muslims.
Yes, Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia just as it is in virtually every other predominantly Muslim country whether it is Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, etc. What's your point?
Yes the 9/11 hijackers were predominantly Saudi. So was UBL. But the Saudis, especially the Royal Family, have been targeted by AQ. UBL in his two main fatwahs declares war on the Saudi Royal family and wants the removed.
If the US stopped buying their oil and closed its bases there the regime would collapse because people are fed up of unemployment and the criminals in charge stealing everything.
You don't have a clue. First of all, Saudi Arabia is the biggest exporter of oil in the world. It does not depend on the US purchases to survive. In fact, just the opposite is true. The US buys about 15% of its oil from the Saudis. Canada and Mexico are our biggest suppliers. Oil is fungible worldwide. A reduction in US purchases will just shift Saudi sales elsewhere. We prefer to buy from the Saudis because of long term contracts and a good quality of oil.
We really don't have US military bases in the Kingdom. We do have trainers and others to help service and operate the military equipment we have sold them, including AWACs. We also have significant business interests in the Kingdom and there are about 25,000 Americans working there, primarily in the oil industry and in medicine.
Living conditions in the Kingdom in terms of roads, telephones, shopping, hotels, etc are on a par with the developed world. You can drink the water out of the tap. Garbage is picked up daily--at least it was when I was there. The Saudis are not living in great poverty.