Reuters: Trump: I told Saudi king he wouldn't last without U.S. support
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump made an undiplomatic remark about close ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, saying he warned Saudi Arabia’s King Salman he would not last in power “for two weeks” without the backing of the U.S. military.
“We protect Saudi Arabia. Would you say they’re rich. And I love the King, King Salman. But I said ‘King - we’re protecting you - you might not be there for two weeks without us - you have to pay for your military,’” Trump said to cheers at a rally in Southaven, Mississippi.
Trump did not say when he made those remarks to the Saudi monarch.
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WNU Editor: The Saudi Kingdom/government would survive if the U.S. should withdraw its support. The Saudis would simply find another major government/country to protect them, and on the top of that list I would put China.
@wnu remember?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.foxnews.com/us/grassley-wants-air-force-to-investigate-1280-hot-cup
China doesn't have anything near America's force projection capability; nor does it have regional infrastructure already in place. Decades in the future, maybe, but until then Saudi Arabia really doesn't have an alternative to the US>
ReplyDeleteDaniel,
ReplyDeleteThe willingness and ability of us to do this is very nearly exhausted. In its current state, the American military would be hard pressed to defend the American mainland should its enemies choose to invade. As such, continuing to defend Saudi Arabia is not only out of the question but doesn't even make strategic sense.
If China did move in, I am pretty sure they would make certain demands of the Saudi government. If the Saudi government did not comply, the Chinese would simply replace it with a more compliant government. In other words, China will not serve as Saudi Arabia's bitch boy the way the US has for many decades. While it could be argued that at one time we had to for the oil. With fracking and other alternative approaches available now it shouldn't be as necessary and since we cannot continue anyway now would be as good a time as any to get out.
As I have said here and elsewhere, I do not expect the Saudi government to survive much longer anyway. My suggestion to them would be turn over all your wealth and assets to your adversaries in the kingdom and elsewhere, seek to leave the country with only the cheapest clothes on your back and nothing else, and perhaps your enemies will allow to live. Otherwise you lose everything including your lives.
Who knows maybe some kind of dignified surrender for them is still possible. When in a hole, the first thing you do is to STOP DIGGING!!
As for America, I would prefer a foreign policy more like that of countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand just to name several examples. I think we will get there eventually. In any event, we don't look to be in a good position to wage conflict with the major world powers.