The worst of the MBS visit was Trump

In my last post, I suggested we should wish Syrian President al-Sharaa well. That was despite his history as a terrorist and responsibility for killing Americans. He has, I think, made it clear he is trying to govern in an inclusive way that steers Syria westward. America should encourage that.

Mohammed bin Salman is different

With Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) the situation is different. MBS came to Washington denying official Saudi involvement in 9/11 (an allegation I don’t believe). He claims to have reformed Saudi institutions to prevent repeat of anything like Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. His spokesman says the right things about the “egregious” crime.

So he and his spokespeople are saying the right things, but it is not clear what they are doing. MBS has unquestionably eased up on the mistreatment of women in Saudi Arabia and ended its ban on most entertainment. But he failed to meet with Jamal’s widow or offer an apology or compensation. His government continues to execute hundreds of people, often for minor offenses. The Kingdom remains a one-person state with no elections, free media, or independent judiciary. Much of its large foreign population works in abominable conditions. Its Shia citizens, 10-12% of the population, face discrimination in education, employment, and elsewhere. Mechanisms for accountability and redress are lacking.

What are they going to do with 300 tanks and 48 F-35s, if the Israelis allow it?

President Trump has nevertheless decided to designate the Kingdom a “major non-NATO ally” and open the floodgates of weapons sales. Riyadh wants to buy almost 300 tanks, an offensive weapon. It also wants 48 F35s, another offensive weapon.

I have to wonder: against whom will these be used? Saudi Arabia’s immediate neighbors are Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Yemen. Only Yemen has threatened the Saudis militarily. There tanks won’t be so useful. The F35s could be, but the Saudis aren’t going to want to go back to war with the Houthis. The Kingdom’s less immediate neighbors are Egypt, Israel, and Iran. Tanks aren’t going to protect Saudi Arabia from Iran’s missiles and drones.

There is also the possibility they will be used for internal security. That is not comforting. Or maybe they are just for show. Egypt has more than a 1000 M1A1 tanks for which there is little military purpose.

The Israelis oppose the F35 sale because they fear it would open the door to sales to Turkey and others. That could endanger Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” That will slow the sale in Congress, but not stop it altogether.

The worst was Trump

The worst part of the MBS visit was not MBS. It was Trump. “Things happen” is not an appropriate comment on murder and dismemberment conducted in a Saudi consulate. They don’t just happen. They are ordered and the orders are carried out. Trump claiming that he has separated himself entirely from his family businesses is just not true. The corruption no doubt includes purchases of Trump memecoins that are untraceable. The abuse is blatant. And a whole lot worse than Hunter Biden occupying a seat on a Ukrainian company board.

America is in the hands of an unpopular president with no scruples but solid support in both houses of Congress. He has ordered the murder of we know not whom on boats he claims are carrying drugs to the US. No wonder he tries to protect MBS.