Saudi pivots from US

[mongers]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/10/23/the-u-s-saudi-crackup-hits-a-dramatic-tipping-point/

For much of the past two years,  the closest thing the U.S. had to a back channel with Saudi Arabia was Tom Donilon, the national security adviser until last June. He traveled to the kingdom occasionally to pass private messages to Abdullah; those meetings didn't heal the wounds, but they at least staunched the bleeding. But Susan Rice, Donilon's successor, has not played a similar bridging role.

  No shit.

Yeah a woman, who's black and brighter than him isn't going to sit comfortably with an precious arab princeling.

[The Minsky Moment]

What do you think are the benefits?

The Saudis have inside connections with just about every significant Sunni governed state and society in the world.  And more than any other single player in the world they exert the most control over oil prices.  That control is very real still BTW - they could easily move that price by a lot if they really really wanted to do it.

That said, if we can get a good deal on Iran no way we say no because it will miff the Saudis.

[mongers]

What do you think are the benefits?

The Saudis have inside connections with just about every significant Sunni governed state and society in the world.  And more than any other single player in the world they exert the most control over oil prices.  That control is very real still BTW - they could easily move that price by a lot if they really really wanted to do it.

That said, if we can get a good deal on Iran no way we say no because it will miff the Saudis.

CdM will be ecstatic, F14 flying again.

[derspiess]

Yeah a woman, who's black and brighter than him isn't going to sit comfortably with an precious arab princeling.

Yeah, brighter

[garbon]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/10/23/the-u-s-saudi-crackup-hits-a-dramatic-tipping-point/

For much of the past two years,  the closest thing the U.S. had to a back channel with Saudi Arabia was Tom Donilon, the national security adviser until last June. He traveled to the kingdom occasionally to pass private messages to Abdullah; those meetings didn't heal the wounds, but they at least staunched the bleeding. But Susan Rice, Donilon's successor, has not played a similar bridging role.

  No shit.

Yeah a woman, who's black and brighter than him isn't going to sit comfortably with an precious arab princeling.

Aren't they basically the same color?

[mongers]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/10/23/the-u-s-saudi-crackup-hits-a-dramatic-tipping-point/

For much of the past two years,  the closest thing the U.S. had to a back channel with Saudi Arabia was Tom Donilon, the national security adviser until last June. He traveled to the kingdom occasionally to pass private messages to Abdullah; those meetings didn't heal the wounds, but they at least staunched the bleeding. But Susan Rice, Donilon's successor, has not played a similar bridging role.

  No shit.

Yeah a woman, who's black and brighter than him isn't going to sit comfortably with an precious arab princeling.

Aren't they basically the same color?

You tell me, though maybe you should also look into the treatment black Africans amongst other, receive there.

Better still why not visit to conduct some field research. 

[garbon]

People get fooled by appearance all the time.

[jimmy olsen]

Don't worry, Obama's got this.  He just needs to bow to the Saudi king again & all will be fixed.

Why would you worry at all? I mean do you think the US and Saudi growing apart is a good or a bad thing?

Saudi Arabia is the type of "ally" that you may not like a whole lot, but still benefit from.  I'm not a Euro, so I'm not seething with hatred over Saudi Arabia.  They're not perfect, and I'd love for us to be in a position where we didn't need them.  But I don't think we're energy independent enough just yet to break all ties with them.

Why would a Euro seeth with hatred over Saudi Arabia?

Americans I can understand, what with the Saudis exporting and supporting a virulent strain of religious fundamentalism that has gone on to kill thousands of us, both military and civilian.

Domus Saud delenda est!

[fhdz]

Finally. Can we invade and take all their oil now?

[Eddie Teach]

Finally. Can we invade and take all their oil now?

Only if we really take their oil.

[Sheilbh]

That said, if we can get a good deal on Iran no way we say no because it will miff the Saudis.

Nor is it worth attacking Syria if this deal carries on working out.

[Sophie Scholl]

[CountDeMoney]

The Saudis have inside connections with just about every significant Sunni governed state and society in the world.  And more than any other single player in the world they exert the most control over oil prices.  That control is very real still BTW - they could easily move that price by a lot if they really really wanted to do it.

Exactly, which is why dumping tons of domestically-produced oil onto the market does jack shit.  Nobody has production control over their spigots and price impact on the market like the Saudis.

That said, if we can get a good deal on Iran no way we say no because it will miff the Saudis.

I dunno, man, don't like that idea...how badly do we have to sell out Israel to get it?  It would never be worth it.

[Neil]

I dunno, man, don't like that idea...how badly do we have to sell out Israel to get it?  It would never be worth it.

Israel would sell the US out given the slightest opportunity.  In fact, they're always selling secret tech to China.  Fuck 'em.

[CountDeMoney]

Israel would sell the US out given the slightest opportunity.  In fact, they're always selling secret tech to China.  Fuck 'em.

Yeah, well that's just Jews being Jews.  We tolerate other nations' peculiarities.