by Nomad
Gangsters Defending Gangsterism
Yesterday's statement from President Donald J. Trump about the US stand on Saudi Arabia in the wake of the Khashoggi murder seems worth a closer look.Never in America's history have we seen such an appalling repudiation of international law and order by a sitting president. In a word, it is a disgrace.
I have taken the time to annotate the text to highlight the amorality of the document.
From the start, we are plunged into Trump's world of faulty logic, wrong conclusions and lies. Personally, I think Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or National Security Advisor John Bolton wrote it and left Trump to add the unnecessary exclamation points.
Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia
America First!
The world is a very dangerous place!
Indeed it is. Why, an innocent man can walk into a consulate and be tortured by a gang and then butchered like a lamb in a slaughterhouse.
But, wait a second. (Insert sound of record scratch.)
The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraq’s fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” Iran is considered “the world’s leading sponsor of terror.”
Defending the US-Saudi alliance by pointing out how awful Iran is is a bit of a stunning opener, even for Trump. It also begs the question, if Iran is so wicked, then is North Korea worse than Iran? Trump feels comfortable about trusting Kim Jong-un.
Remember: the basic criteria to any relationship is trust based on a high degree of predictability. Can Saudi Arabia be trusted more than Iran or North Korea? Trump, for undisclosed reasons, seems to think so.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism.
After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States.
This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and many other great U.S. defense contractors.
If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries – and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!
The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body.
The admitted murder Khashoggi took place inside a consulate. Not on the street. These 17 Saudis did not suddenly decide on their own to murder Khashoggi. Who gave the orders? Who paid for the flight? Whose planes? How was approval obtained from the Saudi Arabian consul in Turkey?
The final version of the royal alibi- it's changed repeatedly over time- is that these men were only supposed to (illegally) kidnap the journalist and bring him home.
For what? Allegedly for insulting the royal family and corruption in high places. And then, according to that story, everything went pear-shaped and a man died.
However, that story has more holes than a target at a gun range. Turkish authorities have provided clear evidence that the gang brought their own murder kit with them, including a bone saw.
The final version of the royal alibi- it's changed repeatedly over time- is that these men were only supposed to (illegally) kidnap the journalist and bring him home.
For what? Allegedly for insulting the royal family and corruption in high places. And then, according to that story, everything went pear-shaped and a man died.
However, that story has more holes than a target at a gun range. Turkish authorities have provided clear evidence that the gang brought their own murder kit with them, including a bone saw.
Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an “enemy of the state” and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that – this is an unacceptable and horrible crime.
Firstly, you know who else is a so-called "enemy of the state" in Saudi Arabia? Well, there's all gay and lesbians, all reformists, there's secularist bloggers, and women’s-rights activists.
At least eight of the 18 women’s-rights activists detained by Saudi authorities this year have been tortured, including at least four who were subjected to electric shocks and lashings, according to two advisers to the Saudi royal family, activists and others with knowledge of the prisoners’ treatment.
In any case, Trump's engaging in a very old and discredited courtroom device. Normally, it provokes a loud "I object, your honor." It is called "slandering the victim."
It used to be a common defense tactic for men accused of rape, as I recall.
If Khashoggi's affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood had no bearing on Trump's decision, then why mention it? Trump is trying to prejudice his audience. Perhaps the reason Trump wants to mention it but not go into it too deeply is that the idea has already been largely discounted.
A month ago, the Brookings Institute examined this allegation in depth.
Trump's statement goes on to say:
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!
That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi.
In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!
"In recent days, stories have appeared highlighting Jamal Khashoggi’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and arguing, as one put it, that “in truth, Khashoggi never had much time for western-style pluralistic democracy…for Khashoggi, secularism was the enemy.” Amplified by pro-Saudi social media and echoed by right-wing commentators in the United States, the subtext of these stories seems to be that the United States should be cautious in championing Khashoggi’s cause, because he was less of a liberal voice than he seemed."Writer and Senior Fellow at Brookings' Foreign Policy,Center for Middle East Policy, Tamara Cofman Wittes's verdict? It wasn't such a long time ago that Saudi Arabia welcomed the members of the Muslim Brotherhood who were persecuted or unsafe in their home countries.
those claiming Khashoggi’s Brotherhood sympathies as some kind of black mark reveal nothing so much as their ignorance of the kingdom, the region, and its history.Who would have thought the Middle East would be so complicated?
Trump's statement goes on to say:
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!
That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi.
Yet, the CIA, by its own admission, appears to believe that Prince Salman gave the order. That's what the Washington Post reported this week.
Not only that, the Post said US officials expressed high confidence in the CIA assessment, which contradicts Saudi government assertions that he was not involved. By helping the Crown Prince conceal his involvement in the murder of a journalist, Trump is making both the CIA and other US officials a party to the crime.
Not only that, the Post said US officials expressed high confidence in the CIA assessment, which contradicts Saudi government assertions that he was not involved. By helping the Crown Prince conceal his involvement in the murder of a journalist, Trump is making both the CIA and other US officials a party to the crime.
In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!
Perhaps this will come as a shock to Trump but murdering your enemies in diplomatic compounds is not an effective way to eliminate the threat of terrorism. It could easily have the opposite effect with every tin-pot dictator rubbing out his enemies wherever they might hide.
As Putin showed in the UK, innocent locals can also become unintentional victims.
As Putin showed in the UK, innocent locals can also become unintentional victims.
I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction – and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America.
After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels – so important for the world.
As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!
After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels – so important for the world.
As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!
This then is the president's defense of Saudi Arabia.
To sum it up: It's a bad, bad world! There are worse players in the Middle East! We don't know the full story! And we may never know the truth! The victim was no angel! Saudi Arabia is our friend in the region. Saudi Arabia is a free-spending ally. It also has valuable things- like oil- that we need! Let's forget this thing. It was, after all, just one life! I didn't even know the guy!!
And then, the president slaps on his personal brand label "America First!"
Will, Cicero writes, a good man lie for his own profit, will he grasp, will he deceive? A good man will do nothing of the kind.
He continues:
It's really that simple.
Under Trump, America First has now become the motto for a nation that eagerly climbs into bed with gangsters and thugs and cut-throats in the name of "national interest."
To sum it up: It's a bad, bad world! There are worse players in the Middle East! We don't know the full story! And we may never know the truth! The victim was no angel! Saudi Arabia is our friend in the region. Saudi Arabia is a free-spending ally. It also has valuable things- like oil- that we need! Let's forget this thing. It was, after all, just one life! I didn't even know the guy!!
And then, the president slaps on his personal brand label "America First!"
Cicero's Argument
Perhaps, the best rebuttal to Trump's appalling defense of Saudi Arabia was provided by my favorite Roman, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Cicero was an eyewitness to the fall of the Roman Republic. The last of the Roman moralists and the first victim of the Empire. Cicero wrote:
“What is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is pernicious.”
Weighing the temptation alone is enough to do damage to one's reputation. And notably, all of Cicero's examples are about business and trade. That's something Trump claims to know about.
But then, this was exactly how Trump did business: with no heed for ethical principles and no thought about how his actions today would affect his reputation tomorrow.
But then, this was exactly how Trump did business: with no heed for ethical principles and no thought about how his actions today would affect his reputation tomorrow.
Will, Cicero writes, a good man lie for his own profit, will he grasp, will he deceive? A good man will do nothing of the kind.
He continues:
No so-called advantage can possibly compensate for the elimination of your good faith and decency and the consequent destruction of your good name. For if a human exterior conceals the heart of a wild beast, their possessor might as well be a beast instead of a man.”In this case, it is the good name - not of Donald Trump, a man whose reputation is beyond salvaging- but of the entire United States. Any nation that seeks political advantages by ignoring ethical concerns cannot be trusted by its neighbors and allies.
It's really that simple.
Under Trump, America First has now become the motto for a nation that eagerly climbs into bed with gangsters and thugs and cut-throats in the name of "national interest."
