US Plans Huge Saudi Arms Deal
I suppose what angers me most about this decision is when I realize how many Saudis were part of the 11 September terrorist attacks. For the sake of oil and for maintaining stability in the region, we are willing to give vast amounts of monetary aid to a country that has been guilty of committing some of the most grievous human rights offenses. Public beheadings, persecution of LBGT citizens, and instances of having women stoned to death based on dubious evidence are but only a few examples to cite.
I've said it once and I'll say it again: The Saudis are not our friends. They look down on our form of government. They believe we are wrong to give women the right to vote and the right to exist on equal standing with men. They find homosexuality unforgivable and abysmal. They don't maintain much semblance of social mobility: one finds that the country is divided between the haves and the have nots, with few people in between.
Politics makes strange bedfellows and this is a clear cut instance of that.
As Judy suggested, and I agree, I wonder if we will have to go to war with the Saudis at some point or another. It is entirely possible, considering that we once supported Iraq during its war with Iran back in the 1980s. After all, we have a nasty habit of supporting regimes who are diametrically opposed to what we hold dear as Americans just for the sake of maintaining our interests. If the Bush doctrine were to be upheld against the Saudis if by chance they threatened to cut the supply of crude oil, then we would launch a preemptive strike against them just as we did Iraq.
If one reads read the article further, we find that there is a substantial chunk of military aid headed in the direction of Israel as well, lest we leave them out as well. Big surprise there. But as many have pointed out: Israel is not our friend, either. They appreciate our military aid, but they are a largely socialistic state who perpetuate genocide against a native people they displaced.
H/t to the British media for keeping us informed (like I'm surprised) and to Judy for finding it out for me.
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2 comments:
Kevin,
I agree with everything you posted here. When will we learn that the enemy of our enemy is not necessarily our friend and the weapons we sell or give away today may be pointed at us tomorrow? We need a new foreign policy that promotes democracy by example and support people by sending humanitarian aid not weapons for their oppressive governments to maintain power.
Dearest Cee Jay,
If you will pardon my effusiveness, I am always thrilled to hear
from you when you comment.
I was having a really crappy day and you really brightened it up.
I'm so thankful for good friends like you.
With admiration,
Kevin.
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