1. Khashoggi Redux
Safe to say there is not a single sentient adult anywhere with half a brain who thinks MBS is innocent of Khashoggi's murder. The degree of culpability is hardly a point worth publicly adjudicating because MBS is not on trial in a court of law in the U.S.
Safe to say there is not a single sentient adult anywhere with half a brain who thinks MBS is innocent of Khashoggi's murder. The degree of culpability is hardly a point worth publicly adjudicating because MBS is not on trial in a court of law in the U.S.
2. The point of public contention revolves entirely around what President Trump should do about the assassination of a Saudi citizen by other Saudi citizens committed in a Saudi consular office in Turkey. Well, what should he do?
3. Trump has chosen to say that he has decided not to contradict what Saudi Kingdom has proclaimed about the case, i.e. the murder was not sanctioned by MBS and was the work of underlings who are being appropriately held accountable.
4. Trump has explicitly explained that his reason for not pressing the matter further at this point in time is two-fold: (a) not to hurt American economic interests, (b) preserve valuable partnership with Saudi Arabia to further peace in the Middle East.
5. The subtext is also clear. It is not wise to weaken Saudi Arabia which will only benefit Iran to the detriment of the U.S., Israel, and our other allies in the Middle East as well as around the globe.
6. Trump opponents seem to want the American President to deliver hoary rhetoric condemning rogue behavior by MBS, because that's what some other president in the past might have done, especially during the Cold War, and stop selling military technology to Saudi Arabia.
7. Trump opponents, however, don't bother to explain how that is not a recipe for playing right into Iranian hands. Also, it cannot be ruled out that some of the insistence in the media for this course of action might actually be funded by Iran through think tanks in the U.S.
8. To be credible, Trump opponents must explain how what they seek benefits the US and our allies, rather than benefiting Iran and our foes, unless hurting the US and our allies in the Middle East is itself the goal of some opponents. Other opponents may just be useful idiots.
9. Knee-jerk opposition to anything Trump does is of course a sacrament for the #Resistance, but there is only so much ritualistic incantations can you utter before saying something that sounds sensible and well thought out. Then again, maybe that is too much to ask.
The END
The END
