Posted on 08/28/2007 5:19:45 AM PDT by SJackson
PING
Without our help, they would have been taken over by them a long time ago or at the least would have got the help from another super power and in either case it would surely not be beneficial to us.
I do.
I would tend to agree. Remember the Saudi ‘fundraiser’ for Arafat in 2003 to help the ‘palestinian people’ in July of 2002? 109 million dollars shipped to Arafat, used for continued funding of the infitada. This bulk of this money donated was yes you guessed it, by Saudi princes. They nor the USA can have it both ways for much longer. Energy dependence on this nation is a very dangerous double edged sword these days and it will the USA and Israel at the losing end of the stick when the times get very rough. The joke of the devil is truly upon the American elite in Washington.
Genocide and ethnic cleansing is NOT an option. Those solutions are reserved for totalitarian states like NAZI Germany, the Soviet Union, the PRC, etc.
"Wahabbi" ain't a race.
And don't think of it as 'ethnic cleansing'. Think of it as flushing a toilet.
L
The Saudis can buy their arms from any country in the world, e.g., the UK, France, Russia, China, etc. The competition is fierce. Selling arms to the Saudis helps the US in many different ways. Besides giving us leverage in how they are used, economically the sales create jobs in the US and lower unit costs to the US military. We would be fools not to sell arms to the Saudis.
An ally of convenience perhaps, but not a friend. And an alliance that should be examined.
Good relations are important, like China the Saudis are important trading partners.
Like the Soviets, and to a lesser extent China of today, the Saudis, along with Iran and Egypt, are exporters of a virulently anti-American ideology which we are confronting violently in various regions, as well as within the US. That needs to be taken into consideration when assessing the relationship.
Given the 1991/2003 experiences with the kingdom I think it's fair to say the Kingdom will welcome our blood, they'll even use their own treasure, when they're threatened. As an ally, unlike Kuwait for example, they'll be no help militarily.
This doesn't mean we don't trade with them, don't have cordial relations, but imo it does mean we don't supply the Saudis, or Egypt, with multi billion dollar packages of advanced arem that are unlikely to advance our interests. Egypt has no land enemies in the region, other than the one to the NE their military trains to attack. The idea that the Saudi's will confront Iran for us militarily is naive.
Neither were the Jews.
The difference is that Jews don't demand the entire world become Jewish or be murdered.
Wahabbis do.
The world would be negatively affected if Jews disappeared for whatever reason. That case does not attain regarding wahabbis.
The world would be better off if Saudi were entirely bereft of any native human population. Other than Western oil workers anyway...
L
Agree with you 100%.
Nations don’t have friends, they have interests.
since I lived in Saudi Arabia for five years.
Bully for you. Did you enjoy putting up your Christmas tree while you were there? How about those Bibles you brought with you?
Most haven’t the faintest idea of World Wide Jihad.
Bull.
Islamic World still has not matured past the pre-Enlightenment stage.
Then why on Earth should we tolerate its continued existence?
L
I agree with the first part of your assessment, the second part is highly questionable. The Saudi "military" being a counterweight against Iranian military adventurism in the region is laughable. The only real military force that acts as any type of counterweight to both Iranian and Syrian proclivities to military mischief is the nation of Israel.
I worked in Saudi Arabia fro a while and have witnessed up close the Saudi military. A more motley, undiscplined and pampered bunch of pansies you'll never find. I used to comment that the Israeli's could fly across Saudi airspace unhindered on their way to Tehran 24/7 for fear of garnering their "attention."
lol.... Right. so next time Saudi gives American arms to Damascus we can wag our fingers at them and they will listen? Your argument is that since our enemies are going to get guns anyway, that we should be the ones to supply them, and at a bargain price as well. Throw in some free training on our most advanced weapons systems and what could go wrong?
sheesh,, if in a few years Al Quadea has ballistic missile systems and the training to use them, it will be because of thinking like yours. The funny thing is, it’s happened before, and we still don’t learn.
First, I am not aware of the Saudis giving any weapons to the Syrians. Second, yes we do set conditions on our arms sales and we do more than just wag our fingers. Cutting off spare parts and training are options. We can also limit future sales of more advanced equipment. We did sell the Saudis AWACs aircraft, but our personnel are riding onboard.
Your argument is that since our enemies are going to get guns anyway, that we should be the ones to supply them, and at a bargain price as well. Throw in some free training on our most advanced weapons systems and what could go wrong?
The Saudis are not our enemies. We have had problems with the Israelis selling our arms technology to China, more of a threat and enemy than the Saudis.
sheesh,, if in a few years Al Quadea has ballistic missile systems and the training to use them, it will be because of thinking like yours. The funny thing is, it’s happened before, and we still don’t learn.
LOL. Please be realistic. AQ with ICBMs and IRBMs. You must be joking.
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