Saudi King Salman Tells President Trump: Syrians 'Brought Destruction To Their Own Country'

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) presents U.S. President Donald Trump with the Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud Medal at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The Independent: Saudi king tells Donald Trump Syrians 'brought destruction to their own country'

'Syria too used to be one of the most advanced countries,' King Salman tells President

The king of Saudi Arabia, a major backer of rebel forces in Syria, appeared to lament the destruction caused by the civil war while meeting with Donald Trump in Riyadh.

“Syria too used to be one of the most advanced countries,” King Salman told Mr Trump, according to a White House press pool report.

“We used to get our professors from Syria,” the King continued. “They served our kingdom. Unfortunately, they too brought destruction to their own country. You can destroy a country in mere seconds, but it takes a lot of effort.”

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WNU Editor: In the beginning .... when the Arab Spring was gripping Syria .... there was a chance to avoid bloodshed. WNU covered those early days extensively .... including warning what would happen if compromise and accommodation could not be reached and if violence becomes the norm. That is why I was not surprised that when the fighting started ..... as is so typical of the Middle East .... everyone got involved (Saudi Arabia included) thereby making Syria the proxy war that it is today. So King Salman is right ..... the inability and unwillingness of many Syrians to compromise in the beginning did cascade into the war that has destroyed their country. But .... Saudi Arabia's hands are not clean .... the Kingdom and the Gulf States have been fuelling this war with resources and materials .... and they have shown little if any interest to stop.