Saudi Arabia Sever Ties with U.S.

[SB Shock]

In unusually blunt public remarks, Prince Turki al-Faisal called Obama's policies in Syria 'lamentable' and ridiculed a U.S.-Russian deal to eliminate Assad's chemical weapons. He suggested it was a ruse to let Obama avoid military action in Syria.

'The current charade of international control over Bashar's chemical arsenal would be funny if it were not so blatantly perfidious. And designed not only to give Mr. Obama an opportunity to back down (from military strikes), but also to help Assad to butcher his people,' said Prince Turki, a member of the Saudi royal family and former director of Saudi intelligence.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan told European diplomats that the United States had failed to act effectively against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was growing closer to Tehran, and had failed to back Saudi support for Bahrain when it crushed an anti-government revolt in 2011, the source said

[pogo]

I get kind of tired of the Saudi's telling us how we should act in what should be their sphere of influence. They have the weapons to enforce their will but lack the will because of how they will be perceived by their Muslim brothers. No matter who the US saves in any of these endeavors we wind up engaged in a conflict that costs us in lives and resources.

[RoyalShock]

Entangling alliances, indeed. Maybe George Washington knew what he was talking about after all.

[SB Shock]

I get kind of tired of the Saudi's telling us how we should act in what should be their sphere of influence. They have the weapons to enforce their will but lack the will because of how they will be perceived by their Muslim brothers. No matter who the US saves in any of these endeavors we wind up engaged in a conflict that costs us in lives and resources.

I don't disagree, and IMO we should not have been involved in Libya, Egypt or syria. But that being said when your country foreign policy is to cozy
Up to the Muslim brotherhood and Iran - what does that say about our "dear leader"?

Btw, at my officer basic course I had a Saudi, he was the most worthless, arrogant p%#%k and almost got beaten up when he refused to obey a West Point woman officer command.

[MoValley John]

I get kind of tired of the Saudi's telling us how we should act in what should be their sphere of influence. They have the weapons to enforce their will but lack the will because of how they will be perceived by their Muslim brothers. No matter who the US saves in any of these endeavors we wind up engaged in a conflict that costs us in lives and resources.

I agree, let Saudi Arabia handle the Middle East. Then again, wasn't one of Obama's main campaign pledges to improve our international image?

As KC will soon tell, this isn't Obama's failure. Moreover, Obama having to get bailed out by Russia is Bush's fault.

[Capitol Shock II]

We are but flies on a horse's ass. It doesn't matter what we think should happen.

[SB Shock]

We are but flies on a horse's ass. It doesn't matter what we think should happen.

although you are right - the real question is what does it mean for the U.S. One security analyst summed it up as this:

The information comes from an unidentified source, but appears consistent with Saudi Arabia's reasons for refusing to accept a seat on the UN Security Council as a rotating member. That suggests it is an official leak. In announcing this action, the Saudi attitudes towards the US resembles the Iranian hardline clerics who said this week that if the US is encouraged by Iranian diplomacy then the diplomacy is wrong.

Saudi Arabian leaders have been quietly but sternly critical of multiple recent US actions in the Middle East, especially the installation of a Shiite-led government in Baghdad through elections. They have not broken openly with the US. This is a serious policy setback because it spotlights that Saudi and US interests are not congruent on the four or five top issues driving instability in the Middle East. In addition, the leaders define the end states of current initiatives differently.

This is particularly true with respect to Iran's nuclear program in that the US is relaxing its longstanding policy position that Iran must halt uranium enrichment. The US appears to be moving to a containment strategy, which it has rejected consistently and as recently as last summer. President Ruhani's election and change of style not substance marks the turning point.

With respect to Syria, Saudi officials seem similar backsliding in the US agreement with Russia to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons. Although the US Secretary of State insists President Asad must go, the agreement absolutely depends on the continuation of the Baathist government in Damascus. The US treats Syrian issues as separate from Iranian nuclear issues. The Saudis perceive them as inseparable.

These are not just policy differences. They are world view differences. They will not be bridged easily, if the Saudis are serious about a public breach with the US.

The more instability in the world the less likely for Wichita to see any economic recovery, especially in the aircraft industry (as we saw in this week announcement of another loss by Cessna for the quarter).

[SB Shock]

From the Washington post - this extends beyond the Saudis

What should worry the Obama administration is that Saudi concern about U.S. policy in the Middle East is shared by the four other traditional U.S. allies in the region: Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. They argue (mostly privately) that Obama has shredded U.S. influence by dumping President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, backing the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi, opposing the coup that toppled Morsi, vacillating in its Syria policy, and now embarking on negotiations with Iran -- all without consulting close Arab allies.

[SB Shock]

All of a sudden, from Washington to Riyadh, Barack Obama's credibility is melting.

Amid the predictable collapse the past week of HealthCare.gov's too-complex technology, not enough notice was given to Sen. Marco Rubio's statement that the chances for success on immigration reform are about dead. Why? Because, said Sen. Rubio, there is "a lack of trust" in the president's commitments.

http://http://online.wsj.com/news/ar...52082961445984

[SB Shock]

Germany and France united in fury over U.S. spying accusations

http://http://ca.news.yahoo.com/germ...094005929.html

[SB Shock]

Brazil and Germany today joined forces to press for the adoption of a U.N. General Resolution that promotes the right of privacy on the internet, marking the first major international effort to restrain the National Security Agency's intrusions into the online communications of foreigners.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/10/24/exclusive_germany_brazil_turn_to_un_to_restrain_american_spies

It is going to take years (probably decades) to recover from the damage that this administration has done.

[SB Shock]

"I defy anyone to tell me what U.S. strategy is in the Middle East."

-- Former Centcom Commander Jim Mattiss

[SB Shock]

Mike Doran from the Brookings institute on the fiasco in Geneva with Noboma Adminstration and Iran

Unrealistic expectations were created. The Obama admin signaled at the beginning of the week that an agreement was fully baked.

But the agreement was only half-baked. Kerry thus ran breathless to Geneva, looking over-eager.

He slapped Netanyahu on his way, creating a spectacle of the disagreement between the US & Israel.

The top story coming out of Geneva is friction between the US & FR. Which further proves that the agreement was half-baked.

The list of disgruntled US allies is now very long & growing by the day: Israel, KSA, Gulf States, France, Turkey.

The impression left is that the US, working behind the scenes w/Iran, sought to present its allies w/a fait accompli.

The effect of this episode is to sow even further doubts in the world about American wisdom, reliability, and fortitude.

It's amateur hour in Washington. And the stakes are deadly.

[MoValley John]

Mike Doran from the Brookings institute on the fiasco in Geneva with Noboma Adminstration and Iran

Bush's fault.

[RoyalShock]

Bush's fault.

Leave our players and recruits out of this!