Top U.S. General In The Middle East Defends The U.S. - Saudi Military Relationship

At an Aug. 30 briefing at the Pentagon, Army General Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command shares his thoughts on his combatant command. (Photo Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee) VIEW ORIGINAL

Defense One: ‘Extraordinarily Important’: Top US General Defends Saudi Relationship, Yemen War

‘I think it is better if we are engaged,” CENTCOM commander Gen. Joseph Votel says in an interview.

The top U.S. general in charge of troops in the Middle East defended America’s ties to Saudi Arabia and said on Monday that military relations between Washington and the kingdom are not changing, as public outrage over the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and the war in Yemen recedes from recent headlines.

“There’s no change with any military relationship we have with Saudi Arabia. From the military perspective, I characterize the relationship as strong, deep, and I think a beneficial one for us. They have been a – they’re an extraordinarily important security partner in the region,” said Gen. Joseph Votel, the top commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East, told Defense One on Monday.

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Update: Top U.S. General in the Middle East Stands by U.S.-Saudi Military Alliance (Haaretz/Reuters)

WNU Editor: The U.S. military is signaling that they have already moved pass the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashogg.