Saudis Snub Obama On Riyadh Arrival Amid Growing Tensions

[DA60]

Usually, I don't pay much attention to these meetings.

But this time, I really think this is making Obama look INCREDIBLY weak.

The Saudi's threaten America and the POTUS jumps through hoops to calm them down.

And if America was not in such an economic mess, then Obama would not be so panicked about the economic impact of the Saudi pull out of all it's American assets during an election year. I guarantee you that Hilary Clinton has been begging/threatening Obama to calm the Saudi's down.

Jeez...talk about the tail wagging the dog.

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

Taking your ball and going home surely is not going to help.

The fact is though that Obama has been a foreign policy failure, Syria shows conclusively just how incompetent he is.

We have to deal with reality, we cant let the fact that he is a partly black man get in the way of understanding what is real.

He's made foreign policy mistakes. They ALL HAVE. Bush 2 was the biggest foreign policy failure over the past 100 years.

Anyway... Black man? What the hell does that have to do with this?

Never mind.. I know.

You cons always scream at people when they play the 'race card'. The fact is you cons never will get over the fact a Black guy is sitting in the white house. TWICE he beat the best the GOP had. And he would again if he could run.

The race card is a daily issue with you cons. You obsess over it.

 

[Hawkeye10]

He's made foreign policy mistakes. They ALL HAVE. Bush 2 was the biggest foreign policy failure over the past 100 years.

Anyway... Black man? What the hell does that have to do with this?

Never mind.. I know.

You cons always scream at people when they play the 'race card'. The fact is you cons never will get over the fact a Black guy is sitting in the white house. TWICE he beat the best the GOP had. And he would again if he could run.

The race card is a daily issue with you cons. You obsess over it.

I am only recognizing that we are not free to think what we like, and we are told constantly by the elite that we need pay attention to race, because it is the color of his skin that matter, not the content of his character. If Obama was white he would be seen as what he is, a prick who is not particularly bright who tends to misjudge more often than he has judged correctly, he is a liar, and he is a failed President, who in many many ways has been even worse than Bush, and Bush SUCKED!

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

I am only recognizing that we are not free to think what we like, and we are told constantly by the elite that we need pay attention to race,

Yeah, blame your 7 years of 24/7 hatred on someone else. Much of the hatred directed at him has been because of race. Before the man was even sworn in death threats against him rose 400%. I have no idea why YOU hate him, but to pretend that some of the hatred directed at him isn't because of his race is to literally have one's head buried in the sand.

Anyway the party of 'self responsibility' strikes again.

 

[Andalublue]

If you think that saying bad things about critical regional powers means that they are of less import, then your ability to exercise rationality is down the hoo-hah.

I don't question the importance of Saudi Arabia. What I question is its malign influence on regional geo-politics. If any of the description I gave was inaccurate, please feel free to prove me wrong.

Among our allies and our foes both, we are less respected as a result of this administration.

You are incorrect. :shrug:

 

[Hawkeye10]

Yeah, blame your 7 years of 24/7 hatred on someone else.

The party of 'self responsibility' strikes again.

I supported Obama in 08, I said that he was a brilliant politician and I just loved watching him run Hillary through the blade. McCain I wanted to kill for choosing an idiot for VP, I knew that when McCain was nominated even though he was clearly over the hill and then more when he did that that the R party was a mess, which was fine with me because I want both parties to be killed. I did not turn on Obama till ObamaCare when it became clear that either did not understand the problem or else did not care enough about the problem to fix it, and I gave up in him in year three when it became clear that he had no end game in mind for being a prick, he was just a prick, and when it was clear that he was never going to work on economic reforms.


I am a Zen Socialist, dont assume with me, because if you do you will be wrong a high percentage of the time, because it is unlikely that you have ever crossed paths with a Zen Socialist before.

 

[Zyphlin]

I for one am so glad for some of the prominent liberals on this site to come out of the word work cheering and being happy about "snubs" by state sponsors of terrors. It's a pity they didn't have such similar joy and fervor in terms of Iran, as much if not more of a state sponsor of terror as Saudi Arabia is, who we just helped come into significant amounts of money that our own SOS suggests will in part be funneled into terrorism.

The snub is unfortunate and a clearly harsh and clear diplomatic move by the Saudi's. Both sides needs to tread carefully here as there's significant factors for both sides in terms of our relationship with the saudi's. It will be interesting to see if Obama's interpersonal and diplomatic skills over the coming days may be able to thaw the icy reception and at least leave on slightly better terms. But it is a ridiculous and insulting snub to send such a low ranking official after the King himself meeting other individuals earlier.

 

[sangha]

I for one am so glad for some of the prominent liberals on this site to come out of the word work cheering and being happy about "snubs" by state sponsors of terrors. It's a pity they didn't have such similar joy and fervor in terms of Iran, as much if not more of a state sponsor of terror as Saudi Arabia is, who we just helped come into significant amounts of money that our own SOS suggests will in part be funneled into terrorism.

We also helped them out of almost all of their radioactive material. Given the choice between them having money or plutonium, I prefer they have money

 

[Hawkeye10]

I for one am so glad for some of the prominent liberals on this site to come out of the word work cheering and being happy about "snubs" by state sponsors of terrors. It's a pity they didn't have such similar joy and fervor in terms of Iran, as much if not more of a state sponsor of terror as Saudi Arabia is, who we just helped come into significant amounts of money that our own SOS suggests will in part be funneled into terrorism.

The snub is unfortunate and a clearly harsh and clear diplomatic move by the Saudi's. Both sides needs to tread carefully here as there's significant factors for both sides in terms of our relationship with the saudi's. It will be interesting to see if Obama's interpersonal and diplomatic skills over the coming days may be able to thaw the icy reception and at least leave on slightly better terms. But it is a ridiculous and insulting snub to send such a low ranking official after the King himself meeting other individuals earlier.

Ridiculous snub to the office and to the nation yes, but Obama as a part black guy prick is reaping what he has sown over the last years.

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

Don't you include Western Europe as a huge part of our alliance? Which allies do you think are more important and respect us less than under GW Bush? Don't you think it is about time that the Saudi's stepped up and took some responsibility for the mess in the M.E.? Or do you think we should just let it slide for another generation because we need their oil?

Apparently Obama's letting it slide by threatening to veto the bill that would allow US citizens to sue the Saudis.

And he's still getting the cold shoulder.

BTW, what is the Obama's foreign policy again?

 

[Andalublue]

I am a Zen Socialist, dont assume with me, because if you do you will be wrong a high percentage of the time, because it is unlikely that you have ever crossed paths with a Zen Socialist before.

As someone who practices Zen Buddhism, and is an unapologetic socialist, I'm interested: what does that label that you've applied to yourself really mean? What do you believe the qualities of a 'Zen Socialist' are?

 

[Hawkeye10]

As someone who practices Zen Buddhism, and is an unapologetic socialist, I'm interested: what does that label that you've applied to yourself really mean? What do you believe the qualities of a 'Zen Socialist' are?

We are not going to get into that here. I have been talking about this in a lot of threads, at some point I have better things to do. Read what I say. If you are educated enough to know something about socialism and Zen then put what I say through that filter, that will get you close. I am not your beck and call guy, I am not going to do a bunch of work just because you decide to assign it....you are not that important to me.

 

[Andalublue]

We are not going to get into that here. I have been talking about this in a lot of threads, at some point I have better things to do. Read what I say. If you are educated enough to know something about socialism and Zen then put what I say through that filter, that will get you close. I am not your beck and call guy, I am not going to do a bunch of work just because you decide to assign it....you are not that important to me.

Well, that tells me just about all I need to know, and just about the least Zen attitude you could possibly have demonstrated.

 

[Hawkeye10]

Well, that tells me just about all I need to know, and just about the least Zen attitude you could possibly have demonstrated.

Ya ya, as Alan Watts found out rebels are not really wanted in western Zen. Unless we agree to be as Borg we are not wanted. As Thomas Moore (care of the soul) points out those who are full of soul, those who have made a long journey that way, tend to be a little hard to take, we are only sometimes in the style of Dalai Lama, the bosses dont like that.

The smart among us try to sift out the cancer of political corruption from the establishments that we deal with. That and recognizing propaganda when we see it are two very valuable tools in modern mans toolbox.

 

[iguanaman]

Apparently Obama's letting it slide by threatening to veto the bill that would allow US citizens to sue the Saudis.

And he's still getting the cold shoulder.

BTW, what is the Obama's foreign policy again?

The bill is the reason for the "cold shoulder" along with the nuclear deal with Iran. I don't think he gives a f and I certainly don't. The Saudi's need us more than we need them. They also have the largest army in the ME and pretty much refuse to use it against ISIS. I'm tired of our boys doing their fighting.

 

[poweRob]

Ridiculous snub to the office and to the nation yes, but Obama as a part black guy prick is reaping what he has sown over the last years.

Race baiting out of nowhere yet again. That's twice in this thread. Don't hold back. We are all here watching YOUR true colors.

 

[Hawkeye10]

The bill is the reason for the "cold shoulder" along with the nuclear deal with Iran. I don't think he gives a f and I certainly don't. The Saudi's need us more than we need them. They also have the largest army in the ME and pretty much refuse to use it against ISIS. I'm tired of our boys doing their fighting.

They cant be too thrilled either to find out that their us military training and equipment is not all that it was cracked up to be.

RIYADH/WASHINGTON – Six years ago, Saudi and American officials agreed on a record $60 billion arms deal. The United States would sell scores of F-15 fighters, Apache attack helicopters and other advanced weaponry to the oil-rich kingdom.

The arms, both sides hoped, would fortify the Saudis against their aggressive arch-rival in the region, Iran.

But as President Barack Obama makes his final visit to Riyadh this week, Saudi Arabia’s military capabilities remain a work in progress – and the gap in perceptions between Washington and Riyadh has widened dramatically.

The biggest stumble has come in Yemen. Frustrated by Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran and the U.S. pullback from the region, Riyadh launched an Arab military intervention last year to confront perceived Iranian expansionism in its southern neighbour.

The conflict pits a coalition of Arab and Muslim nations led by the Saudis against Houthi rebels allied to Iran and forces loyal to a former Yemeni president. A tentative ceasefire is holding as the United Nations prepares for peace talks in Kuwait, proof, the Saudis say, of the intervention’s success.

But while Saudi Arabia has the third-largest defence budget in the world behind the United States and China, its military performance in Yemen has been mixed, current and former U.S. officials said. The kingdom’s armed forces have often appeared unprepared and prone to mistakes.

Yemen’s guerrilla war tests military ambitions of big-spending Saudis

Must suck to go decades supporting USA and then come 2016 be thinking "damn, maybe we should have picked Russia", this being the same Russia that was two decades a basket case, but is now seen to be constantly out maneuvering both Europe and USA.

 

[poweRob]

Former Senator Bob Graham told as all this a long time ago about Saudi Arabia after 9/11. I can't believe that so many conservatives hate obama so much that even in light of this, they side with Saudi Arabia just so they can continue to slam Obama. At least my conservative buddy Thrilla got it right... **** Saudi Arabia.

Bob Graham was investigating this and preaching it to us 14 damn years ago and only now people give a damn? It's about ****ing time.

I recall watching a video of Sen Bob Graham many years ago and he was furious and he said there are clear ties to a specific country backing 9/11 in the redacted pages and I can't legally say who but it rhymes with Baudia Ababia. The news and the public just glossed over it until now apparently.

 

[Hawkeye10]

Race baiting out of nowhere yet again. That's twice in this thread. Don't hold back. We are all here watching YOUR true colors.

I am the guy who has been supporting Trump since Sep 10.

My response of course is " stuff it".

Smart people talk about reality as it is, if reality is uncomfortable for you then maybe you should go mind the children.

If me mentioning the FACT that Obama is part black is a problem then you are the one with the problem, not me.

 

[poweRob]

I am the guy who has been supporting Trump since Sep 10.

My response of course is " stuff it".

Smart people talk about reality as it is, if reality is uncomfortable for you then maybe you should go mind the children.

If me mentioning the FACT that Obama is part black is a problem then you are the one with the problem, not me.

You mentioning obama being "part black man" wouldn't be so surprising if it was actually part of the topic... at all.. In any way. That you pull that off-topic insight right out of your arse multiple times just shows everyone what you are actually about.

 

[Grand Mal]

Ya ya, as Alan Watts found out rebels are not really wanted in western Zen. Unless we agree to be as Borg we are not wanted. As Thomas Moore (care of the soul) points out those who are full of soul, those who have made a long journey that way, tend to be a little hard to take, we are only sometimes in the style of Dalai Lama, the bosses dont like that.

The smart among us try to sift out the cancer of political corruption from the establishments that we deal with. That and recognizing propaganda when we see it are two very valuable tools in modern mans toolbox.

You don't get to rewrite Buddhism to suit your politics and Zen, for all some people's efforts to tie it into Shinto, is still Buddhism

 

[Hawkeye10]

You don't get to rewrite Buddhism to suit your politics and Zen, for all some people's efforts to tie it into Shinto, is still Buddhism

Right, and while we could go all nite arguing if it is a religion I am going to insist upon the right to have my own interpretation, the one that works for me which is to say looks right to me, because we are the deciders.

You lose, which is to say if you know anything about Zen you know that I just cleaned your clock.

I am about done for the night, lets do this again sometime.

Eventually you will beat me.

Bye Now.

 

[DA60]

If any country in the Middle-East is in desperate need of regime change, it is Saudi ****ing Arabia. Bush succeeded in distracting from this with Iraq, and Hillary succeeded in distracting from this with Libya and Syria. Time's run out. The elite are losing.

Well said, IMO.

 

[Andalublue]

Ya ya, as Alan Watts found out rebels are not really wanted in western Zen.

Alan Watts is a figure who commands a LOT of respect from almost every other practitioner of Zen I've ever met. What a strange comment.

Unless we agree to be as Borg we are not wanted.

Craving to be 'wanted' is a manifestation of samsara. We can get over it.

As Thomas Moore (care of the soul) points out those who are full of soul, those who have made a long journey that way, tend to be a little hard to take, we are only sometimes in the style of Dalai Lama, the bosses dont like that.

I'm not sure how to respond to that since Buddhism teaches us that there's no such thing as 'soul'. It's an illusion, unless we're talking Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.

The smart among us try to sift out the cancer of political corruption from the establishments that we deal with. That and recognizing propaganda when we see it are two very valuable tools in modern mans toolbox.

Nothing wrong with such sentiments, although how they relate to the conversation, I'm not sure.

 

[fmw]

Former Senator Bob Graham told as all this a long time ago about Saudi Arabia after 9/11. I can't believe that so many conservatives hate obama so much that even in light of this, they side with Saudi Arabia just so they can continue to slam Obama. At least my conservative buddy Thrilla got it right... **** Saudi Arabia.

Then why is Obama there?