Monday 22 May 2017

Saudis and Extremism: ‘Both the Arsonists and the Firefighters’ - The New York Times

Another flip-flop.  Trump said anyone bowing in Saudi would be sent home...
Trump was wrong to praise Saudi and cane Iran.
They're both pretty horrible theocracies.  Both responsible for terrorism.
Iran by its hardware: guns and funds. For Hamas and Hezbollah.
Saudi by its software: money, mosques and madrassas. Across the world including in our own dear west.
As Trump spoke, the Iranians were just coming out of an election where they'd overwhelmingly voted for a "moderate", or what passes for a moderate in the Muslim world.
So, why cane only Iran, and why praise only Saudi.
Why not a bit of grief for Saudi?  Sure, it's hard to criticise a host. But still...
Both of them -- Saudi and Iran -- need carrots and sticks.  They need the US, and the west, more than we need them.