Tag Archives: U.S. allies

When Our Mideast Friends Prove Unfaithful, by Doug Bandow

One thing you can almost always count on is that nation’s and their leaders will watch out for themselves, regardless of how many treaties they’ve signed and alliances they’ve formed. From Doug Bandow at theamericanconservative.com:

When Our Mideast Friends Prove Unfaithful

It’s time for the United States to look out for itself.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 14, 2019. (Photo by Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

It took a tragic war in Europe to demonstrate that America’s Mideast friends are not really friends. Ever ready to squeeze the U.S. for all the benefits it can provide, they won’t sacrifice for it in return. Even a little.

Uncle Sam is like the lovelorn teen nerd who falls for a popular cheerleader. She happily accepts his gifts, treating them as her due. But for him, nada. Yet he won’t give up, convinced that she really likes him. And on it goes, until reality finally cools his ardor.

Unfortunately, the U.S. is going through something like this with Saudi Arabia and its neighbors. America has never been their first love, which was themselves, but they enjoyed her willingness to do whatever they asked. Provide aid and arms. Back ruling regimes. Offer diplomatic cover. Ignore human rights violations. Accept support for violent extremists. And ignore opposition to U.S. interests and objectives.

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