Posted on 10/13/2018 6:51:54 PM PDT by Kaslin
The missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has caused world leaders to focus on not only the role Saudi Arabia may have played in his disappearance but also its role in the Yemeni civil war. The missing Saudi journalist (a U.S. resident) is apparently the victim of a political assassination of the sort that occurs much too frequently throughout the Middle East and the world, e.g., Iran, Pakistan, Russia, China, et al. No journalists should be subjected to threats of intimidation or threats on their life, much less murder for expressing political opposition. Saudi Arabia must be required to make a full accounting for the disappearance of Khashoggi. Should the evidence show that Saudi individuals, perhaps even the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, were responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance and possible murder, they must pay a price imposed either by the Saudi government—or the U.S. government.
While we have many shared interests with Saudi Arabia, we do not have shared values in most cases. In that sense, not only the treatment of journalists critical of the regime, but also the denial of women’s, minority, and non-Muslims’ rights as mandated by the Qur’an and shariah are prime examples. Our primary shared interests clearly involve preventing the expansion and dominance of Iranian terror-linked influence throughout the Middle East. Further, regime change in Tehran is also a vital shared interest both for U.S. national security interests and those of our Israeli ally and other partners in the region.
Never forget, Iran has been at war with the United States since 3 November 1979. This Iranian regime is responsible for the loss of thousands of American civilian and military lives, from Beirut to New York City and the Pentagon, to the battlefields of Iraq. Its key role in providing essential assistance and operational direction in the 9/11 terrorist attacks must never be forgotten. Iran’s bid for control of Yemen through its backing of the Houthi rebels would give Iran direct access to threaten the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait where more than one-third of the world’s oil in transit passes through on a daily basis. Along with its long-time threats to the Strait of Hormuz, such access would give Iran direct ability to threaten two of the world’s strategic straits and de facto ability to threaten a third, the Suez Canal. Such a threat position cannot be allowed to happen.
With all the media hype about the disappearance of the Saudi journalist, Khashoggi, we must not lose sight of our larger objectives in the area. In many civil wars, regrettably, there is always a humanitarian crisis. Yemen is no different. It’s what a civil war is about. Houthi rebels backed by Iran have committed numerous atrocities, mainly unreported by the mainstream media (MSM). Saudi Arabia’s indiscriminate airstrikes that have caused thousands of civilian casualties, however, are given primary attention. There is no question Yemen is suffering a humanitarian crisis which must be resolved by a negotiated solution as soon as possible. Taking back control of the port city of Hodeida is key to reaching such a settlement. Such action would isolate the Houthi rebels in the south and keep them from their bases in the Yemeni highlands. It would also facilitate the recapture of the capital city, Sanaa, and its airport. Further, it would be a tremendous psychological blow to both the rebels and Iran. It would be a major step in cutting off a key access point for Iranian support to the rebels.
Iran’s role in supporting the Houthi rebels is very transparent. It is all part of a plan to expand the Iranian Shi’ite Crescent to where it becomes the dominant force in the Middle East. They hope to accomplish this by physically surrounding the Arabian Peninsula with “proxy” forces supported with its own behind-the-scenes forces and material. This classic Iranian tactic extends its geo-strategic reach and positions it to attack its arch-enemy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the ultimate objective to seize control of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Forcing Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal from the Yemeni civil war would only facilitate Iran’s hegemonic and terrorist objectives throughout the Middle East and beyond (Latin America), which include encircling the entire Arabian Peninsula with its oil and gas resources. Preventing this strategic debacle from happening must be a top Trump administration-Saudi Arabia shared objective. Resolving the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi and ensuring appropriate punishment of those involved—even if at the top levels of the Saudi regime—nevertheless must be handled separately from maintaining our shared interests in eliminating the Iranian theocracy. This is key!
Does not matter there no roaming
What the hell are you talking about? If there was a connection for the phone, then the watch would connect too.
Cell phone have plans and when in Europe they must roam; if roaming not available as it is in Turkey then no connection. No phone nothing - fake news
Yes, there is cellular service in Turkey. Not sure where you got the idea that there isn’t.
His phone did not have roaming so he had no service.
In an interview with Trump that I listened to yesterday, Trump said he intends to call Prince Solman(sp?) To see what’s going on. They have to call in the evening.
We had national security interests along the northern and eastern borders of Iran, but when Iran became an Islamic dictatorship, our relationship ended.
Erdogan has created an Islamic police state in Turkey, and he dreams of recreating the Ottoman Empire.
But he's still in NATO, and he is still welcome in every western European capital?
Insanity!
I was referring to those ‘interests’ on the Turkish side.
Relevant part:
UPDATE: TechCrunch’s Zack Whittaker on Thursday posted the enhanced photo below of Khashoggi wearing an Apple Watch Series 3 in Istanbul last May. But according to Whittaker’s report, the third-generation Apple Watch does not support cellular connections in Turkey, effectively ruling out any chance that his data synced either with his iPhone outside or Apple’s servers.
Are you saying western democracies should have good relations with Erdogan because Erdogan has national security interests on his northern and eastern borders?
But before we separate ourselves from the Riyadh regime, we should ask what is the alternative if the House of Saud should be destabilized or fall? When Egypt's King Farouk was overthrown in 1952, we got Nasser. When young King Faisal was overthrown in Baghdad in 1958, we eventually got Saddam Hussein. When King Idris in Libya was ousted in 1969, we got Qaddafi. When Haile Selassie was overthrown and murdered in Ethiopia in 1974, we got Col. Mengistu and mass murder. When the Shah was overthrown in Iran in 1979, we got the Ayatollah. As World War I, when four empires fell, testifies, wars are hell on monarchies. And if a new and larger Middle East war, with Iran, should break out in the Gulf, some of the Arab kings, emirs and sultans will likely fall. And when they do, history shows, it is not usually democrats who rise to replace them.
With Friends Like These | Pat Puchanan | October 12, 2018 | Townhall
No. Real world politics is a difficult subject - The US has national security ‘interests’ on his borders with Russia, Iran, Armenia, and Georgia. We need those assets just as we have needed them for 60 years. We would lose more than we would gain by cutting off all relations with Turkey.
If you have not been there (the border regions), it is difficult to explain.
BTW Turkey has always been a police state - Estrogen just made it more visible.
“I [PIF] was referring to those ‘interests’ on the Turkish side.”
Now, you are discussing USA interests, which is exactly what I was talking about in the first place.
Concerning your Comment about Turkey always being a Police State....
I would agree that Turkey had an authoritarian government for most of the 20th Century.
However, the government and military were secular, they were anti-Communist and pro-Western, and they had good relations with Israel.
Under Erdogan, the military and government have been Islamized, they are pro-Iran, and they openly antagonize Israel and provoke the Palestinians to attack Israel.
I’m not so sure. I was in Istanbul recently and my Apple Watch (Series 3) was working fine. I don’t know if it was communicating via cell or Bluetooth, though.
I would agree that Turkey had an authoritarian government for most of the 20th Century.
If you call napalming and strafing protestors in the streets of Ankara authoritarian, then yes;
if you call setting aside an entire province for criminals and enemies of the state authoritarian, then yes;
If you call shelling a rebellious town with artillery authoritarian, then yes;
if you call disappearing citizens in the dead of night authoritarian, the yes;
if you call showing all existent medieval torture implements to its imprisoned citizens authoritarian, then yes - you are correct; it is just a run of the mill authoritarian state.
Try living there a year or two and get back to me.
Notice the watch version.
Re: “Try living there a year or two and get back to me.”
Yes. I agree.
Only a person who has lived in Turkey can understand its history and its government.
I withdraw my previous intemperate Comments.
Thank you
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