The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is looking for a guarantee on security. Saudi royals have a history of outsourcing their country’s dirty work, like defense. Who better than the U.S. to protect the licentious, elite? Although Gurkhas can fight well, Americans have aircraft carriers and nuclear arms. Riyadh also wants to have its own nuclear power program, which is largely unrestricted. This would be an insurance policy for the event that Iran decides to develop nuclear weapons.
Washington’s policymakers are suckers when it comes to the Kingdom. They can be easily influenced, and they will buy anything for a promise or a song. The U.S. supported the Saudi royal family for decades as they supported authoritarian Arab leaders, spread Islamic fundamentalism and financed Islamist extremists. Saudi Arabia has now abandoned its pretense that it is lowering oil prices. The spineless Biden Administration is now considering making American military personnel royal bodyguards.
What? For what? Riyadh is more interested in a large bribe than establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. The Abraham Accords, which are widely praised, are a fraud. They were not forged by Washington to benefit the Netanyahu government, but instead resulted from Israel and Arab countries deciding that normalizing diplomatic relations was in their best interests.
The United Arab Emirates, for example, wanted to buy more advanced aircraft with which they could terrorize their neighbors like Yemen. Sudan wanted to lift U.S. Sanctions that had been in place for years. Morocco wanted Washington’s support for its illegal seizure and suppression of Sahwari autonomy. The Saudi royals now want the U.S. government to take up the defense of their monarchy.
It’s hard to believe that Donald Trump is viewed as a Saudi shill. He refused to wage war in Riyadh’s name.
Candidate Biden went to the White House as a human rights and democracy advocate. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was his poster child of criminal governance. He suppressed dissent in Saudi Arabia and kidnapped princes from abroad. It is not surprising that MbS (as the prince is called) has jailed Saudis and even those with American citizenship for criticizing the future king.
While he received good press when he liberalized Saudi Arabia’s rigid social restrictions, “better later than never” does not justify his actions. MbS arrested people who were protesting for these changes. He punished Saudi journalists for remaining silent and not praising his aggressive campaign when he launched the regime change operation in Qatar. It was the dispatch of a kill squad to murder critic Jamal Khashoggi and dismember him that best illustrated his arrogance. Khashoggi’s location, or more precisely body pieces, remains unknown.
Riyadh, today, is one of the worst abusers of human rights in the world. is lower than Iran and Russia. Freedom House gives a depressing assessment of Saudi Arabia’s assault on life and dignity.
In a calculated act of dishonesty Biden promised to stop U.S. complicity in Saudi war crimes and make MbS a “pariah”. Yet, President Biden refused to stop military support for Riyadh, even though it continued to commit murderous attacks in Yemen. The president, for some reason, relies on KSA friendly apparatchiks such as Brett McGurk of the National Security Council, who is known to put the Kingdom’s interest first.
The world was captivated by the Biden and MbS fist bump in July last year. The stumbling president bowed down to the Saudi royals and demanded more oil production. They cut sales with contempt. briefly threatened to punish the Saudis for their humiliation. But returned to ‘s supine attitude, treating Riyadh, as the dominant partner, to . Biden is kowtowing even deeper by indicating his willingness to wage war against the KSA’s demand.
Israel has long relied on the callousness and self-preservation of Arab leaders to advance its own interests. This is despite decades’ worth of abuse of Palestinians. The Saudi sale is still proving difficult. Ben Caspit of Al-Monitor reported that: “Truthfully, with Israel being ruled by the most nationalist regime in its history and the U.S. withdrawing from the Middle East at a rapid pace, and with almost all of the region’s Sunni countries on a course of reconciliation with Iran, it should have been considered science fiction.” Surprisingly it is still real.”
Israel and Saudi Arabia are not at war, so the issue is not peace. There has been a long-standing, discreet dialogue and cooperation on security issues. Benjamin Netanyahu has become more eager to reach out to the Saudi Arabian government due in part, to the growing international criticism and discontent within the country. Capsit stated that Netanyahu is “willing to pay a high price for an agreement” with Saudi Arabia. However, it is the Americans who will pay for Arab co-operation, and not Israel.
The prince was taken aback by Biden and he sensed that he had not only been underestimated but also treated with servility. MbS treated diplomacy as if it were the Arab bazaar. Reported the New York Times: “Saudi Arabia is seeking security guarantees from the United States, help with developing a civilian nuclear program and fewer restrictions on U.S. arms sales as its price for normalizing relations with Israel.”
Unfortunately, instead of walking away, officials in the administration are apparently entertaining the idea that they can guarantee the Saudi monarchy. There are still many obstacles that prevent such a humiliating surrender. Democrats are increasingly independent, despite Republican leaders’ willingness to sacrifice U.S. interest to help Middle East clients. They have become more appalled at both Saudi and Israeli conduct.
The American people may also take notice if the Biden Administration agrees to convert U.S. military personnel in modern Janissaries. The idea of turning American military personnel into servants of House of Saud is a grotesque abuse of their services. ‘s Bilal Saab, of the Middle East Institute, said that any military deployment must take into account the national interests of the United States, and not Israel. Washington has a duty to its citizens. Any policy discussion should begin with protecting them, their lives, liberties and territory, democracy and prosperity. While the U.S. must respect and consider other countries’ interests, this does not mean that defense should be treated as an international welfare program.
The United States is certainly not responsible for protecting the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s royal family isn’t worth the life of one Kentucky rifleman or New York gunner. Let the KSA aristocracy persuade its own people to defend it. Send thousands of princes to fight for their monarch in uniform. No American blood must be shed to ensure a prince’s reign.
It would be safer to take half steps, but they are still stupid. Declaring the Kingdom as a major non NATO ally is one option. Jordan and Qatar are also undemocratic countries that enjoy a similar status. However, neither is as brutal as the KSA. The regime has used cash and troops in Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia to enforce autocracy. Riyadh’s invasion of Yemen was MbS’s greatest crime. It killed tens of thousands or perhaps even hundreds of thousand civilians. Washington’s complicity made the American public accomplices .
What about the oil of the kingdom? Riyadh has lost a lot of its market power and energy value due to the transformation of global markets. Washington should focus on diplomatic solutions that will bring Iranian, Venezuelan and even Russian oil back to the market, rather than begging Riyadh for lower gas prices. It is not another “strategic Compact” that puts Saudi interests first, but rather normal international interactions.
Subscribe Now
Receive weekly emails to your inbox
The U.S. shouldn’t treat Saudi Arabia as an enemy, regardless of its terrible record. Americans should treat Saudi Arabia as they would any other country, without sycophantic hugs and hand holding. Washington policymakers need to remember that America is a superpower, and should treat Saudi Arabia as if it were a normal nation. The KSA is not a valuable ally, but a market.
Could Beijing and Moscow replace the U.S.A. in the Persian Gulf region? China and Russia are unlikely to protect the royals. Either is not a suitable replacement for an armorer. China’s role in the global economy will increase. This is a fact, regardless of any political relationship. America can’t be expected to dominate the world forever. Washington should not hesitate in transferring the yoke from an “ally” who is unfree and increasingly unhelpful.
The Biden administration has lost respect for the U.S. because of its sycophancy towards the Kingdom. The cost of ensuring the security of the Saudi royal regime could be American lives. Washington should prioritize American interests over the Saudi royal family.
