Reuters: Saudi Arabia seeks action against Iran after oil attack, allies wary
DUBAI/RIYADH, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will seek to make a case at a global gathering in New York this week for concerted action to punish and deter arch-foe Iran after strikes on Saudi oil plants rattled global markets and exposed the kingdom's vulnerability to attack.
However, even Riyadh's main allies the United States and the United Arab Emirates have little appetite for a conventional military confrontation which may spark a war in the Gulf and drag in other oil producers, diplomats say.
As it tries to build a coalition, Riyadh is preparing to provide evidence to the U.N. General Assembly which it says will prove Iran was behind the Sept. 14 drone and missile assault which initially drastically affected its oil output, a view shared by Washington. Riyadh says Iranian weapons were launched from the north and that it is working to pinpoint the exact location.
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WNU Editor: It is going to take a lot more than a just a military strike on two oil facilities for Saudi Arabia's allies to get involved in launching a military strike against Iran and risking war. The Saudis must accept that the focus from the U.S. and its allies is to enforce sanctions, and leaving the military option on the table as a last resort. But should Iran launch more attacks and move to cripple oil shipping in the Gulf, there is no doubt in my mind that this is when this conflict will then move quickly from the diplomats to the Generals. My prediction. Iran is pushing the boundaries, almost wishing for a war. I for one would not be surprised if they do something dramatic, because sanctions are crippling their economy, and they feel that they must respond in order to show their citizens that they are in control.
ReplyDeleteThe sanctions are a gunpowder free war at this point. They are working.
The Saudis have been buying the tools of the trade and training on them for years. They can engage in a little brinkmanship on their own.
Let's see what the NYT, etc., have to say about Trump's unwillingness to go to war, now. His saying this will give them even less credibility and ruin their narrative of DJT as a bombastic bull in a china shop that they have nurtured for years. Time to change drums, kids. Again.
Pathetic.
Dear Saudi Arabia,
ReplyDeleteNo.
Yours truly,
Uncle Sam
Trump has created a situation where crippling sanctions are forcing Iran to act desperately.
ReplyDeleteTrump, however, is seemingly not willing to deal with the consequences of what Iran does as a result of that. Take the drone shooting and the Oil attacks/Ship seizures as collective evidence of this.
Now all sides are starting to question Trump's policy on Iran, and a weak posture that is emanuating from America. If anyone thinks that piling on more sanctions is showing 'strength', then the next few weeks/months will be a harsh reality check.
WE cannot give our blood if Saudi's are not ready to give their own.
ReplyDeleteThat said, it is a very good thing to let Iran not being punished for what they did, because they will be much embolden to do worse and give every body a good reason to act against them.
I know I am a little bit cynical, but so what?
Jac
ReplyDeleteFrom the America military perspective, the issue is not whether the Saudis are prepared to give their blood in retaliation of this attack. The issue is, will this give them the opportunity they have wanted since they were kicked out of Iran to get back in? There are many in America praying it will be so.
I'm a cynic too.