Saudis contemplating downgrade in U.S. relations-Compare Obama to Carter

[Sava]

Fundamentalist Islam is a natural ally to American conservatism. During the Russian Afghan occupation, Reagan loved the idea of supporting the Islamists because they believed in God.

[kentonio]

The Iranians are more than just slightly worse.

No they really are not. As an American you should probably go and remind yourself of the nationalities of the people who flew planes into the World Trade Center on 9/11 if you really need reminding of what kind of 'friends' the Saudis are to you.

[giblets]

Why would we judge an entire country by the actions of a few individuals?

[kentonio]

Because it isn't the actions of a few individuals. If you searched really hard to try and find the absolute ideological enemies of America, you'd end up standing at the doorstep of Wahhabism. The Saudis maintaining an alliance with the US is right up there with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact for sheer irony.

[C0ckney]

iran is a bastion of democracy and liberal values compared to saudi arabia.

[kentonio]

Judging by opinion polls in Iran and the US, the Iranian public would be much more open to re-establishing relations than the Americans would.

[Dinner]

The Iranians are more than just slightly worse.

I don't remember Iranians flying planes into buildings on 9/11. I do remember a hell of a lot of Saudis do that as well as a few Yemenis who are the same worthless tribal barbarians but without the benefit of oil to enable their moocher lifestyles.

[Dinner]

Judging by opinion polls in Iran and the US, the Iranian public would be much more open to re-establishing relations than the Americans would.

Not least of all because the sanctions are working, they're cause massive economic harm and even out of control inflation, yet the Iranian government is still playing dishonest games and is attempting to play for time instead of honestly giving up their nuclear weapons program. Screw them.

Sure, I like that Obama is giving peace a chance and is willing to explore diplomatic options but really they need to just totally give up because they're the ones facing economic Armageddon and I want a hard line where they either unconditionally surrender or they get ever tighter sanctions followed by direct military strikes. I am generally against foreign military adventures (these days; meaning post my Iraq war experience) but one thing we can never allow is Mullahs in Iran with nukes. I'd rather nuke the whole damn country then allow that because they truly are one of the largest terrorist sponsors on Earth and a line in the sand must be drawn. Here and no further or you die.

[kentonio]

IMHO it would be the best way to destabilise the leadership of the country and allow further moderates into government. Fight the extremists from within by winning the hearts and minds of the people.

Yep, it's ultimately the only way to win.

[Dinner]

And with talk like that, that is why I imagine they'd want nuclear weapons...

Let them want all they want but let them know they won't live to see it. THAT is the only thing those terrorists will respect. Obey or suffer the horrible consequences. THAT they will understand while reasonable dialogue they will only view as weakness.

[PLATO]

Let them want all they want but let them know they won't live to see it. THAT is the only thing those terrorists will respect. Obey or suffer the horrible consequences. THAT they will understand while reasonable dialogue they will only view as weakness.

neocon.

[pchang]

Our ability to say FU to the Saudis is directly related to advances in fracking technology

[Wezil]

This is what happens when 50% of the college graduates get a "degree" in Islamic Religious Studies. They end up with an economically worthless population completely unable to do anything useful for themselves. Maybe they should stop paying for people to become Mullahs and maybe actually educate people in science or engineering or some other subject which actually would be of some modest economic worth?

"You know what the business community thinks of you? They think that a hundred years ago you were living in tents out here in the desert chopping each other's heads off and that's where you'll be in another hundred years, so, yes, on behalf of my firm I accept your money. "

[The Mad Monk]

So basically you're agreeing with Obama...?

Right wing media agrees with me, not the other way around.

[Sava]

Right wing media agrees with me, not the other way around.

That should've been your first clue about why you are wrong about... mostly everything.