Biden Fist Bumps with Saudi Crown Prince

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Initially, I could not believe the photo of Biden fist bumping with the man who allegedly is responsible for the death of a U.S. reporter. There does not seem to be much outrage over this. Why not? One can imagine the howls of criticism if Trump was the one fist bumping with this man. So, what's up? Realpolitik is the answer. The free world and its allies need Saudi Arabia, thus we can turn a blind eye to certain indiscretions made by the Saudis.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/biden-sau ... -1.6521840

[Kenr6583]

That was definitely a stupid display on his part. During his time in office, Trump did a WHOLE hell of a lot of things that were worse than that. And Trump did say that the Crown Prince didn’t have anything to do with it, soooo.

[Khun Paul]

Initially, I could not believe the photo of Biden fist bumping with the man who allegedly is responsible for the death of a U.S. reporter. There does not seem to be much outrage over this. Why not? One can imagine the howls of criticism if Trump was the one fist bumping with this man. So, what's up? Realpolitik is the answer. The free world and its allies need Saudi Arabia, thus we can turn a blind eye to certain indiscretions made by the Saudis.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/biden-sau ... -1.6521840

What the hell did you think he was going to do, give him a manly hug and kiss him. OMG just how fragile are we these days......amazing

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Yes, I agree that Trump did far worse. However, the criticism of Biden is fairly muted. The more important point concerns the reason(s) why Biden is doing this.

[Kenr6583]

It’s not muted. All the major networks, including some Democrats, are calling it shameful.

MSNBC, CNN, Newsweek, FOX, Washington Post, etc. And the list goes on calling it a disaster.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

That's good. But, do the major networks offer an explanation for why he did it?

[Kenr6583]

Why is Biden meeting with him? I’m sure it’s to get them to increase output to lower prices because of The Russia invasion.

Even though there is no gas shortage in the United States, which is why I don’t understand why the gas prices are so ****** high, but to help Europe and the UK and the rest of the world.

Or are you talking about the fist bump? They have asked him but he won’t give a response.

[papafarang]

The only reason there is any outrage is because MBS got caught doing it. He should have just blagged it and said it was a matter of national security ,terrorism, targeted killing and all the other jargon they use to justify murdering people. Does anyone think this was the worlds first assassination of opponents by security services ? . the meeting and hand bump is all about money ,nothing more really to say about it.

[Udon Map]

Initially, I could not believe the photo of Biden fist bumping with the man who allegedly is responsible for the death of a U.S. reporter. There does not seem to be much outrage over this. Why not? One can imagine the howls of criticism if Trump was the one fist bumping with this man. So, what's up? Realpolitik is the answer. The free world and its allies need Saudi Arabia, thus we can turn a blind eye to certain indiscretions made by the Saudis.

What the hell did you think he was going to do, give him a manly hug and kiss him. OMG just how fragile are we these days......amazing

I think that you may have missed the point. Biden vowed to make Saudia Arabia a pariah for its murder of the journalist in the Saudi Embassy. Instead, he gave the prince exactly what he wanted, -- legitimacy for the world to see, when the U.S. President is openly friendly to him. Biden's meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, let alone the fist-bump gesture of friendship, will give the Saudi leader exactly what three years of Saudi PR campaigns, lobbying expenses, and even a new golf league have not: a return to respectability. This undeserved absolution will, in turn, only undermine the foreign-policy goals Biden hopes to achieve.

It was a terrible move for the U.S. and our image abroad, sending a number of messages to the world that are decidedly detrimental to our image:

1. American moral values are negotiable. Biden was outraged at Kashhoggi's murder and, as I said above, vowed to make Saudi Arabia a pariah on the world stage because of it. But all the moral outrage is out the window if there's a possibility of lowering the price of oil. The U.S. is the moral leader of the world except when commercial interests are better served by ignoring that moral leadership. Then we're willing to look the other way. This erodes our moral authority.

2. About-faces such as the one Biden made breed anti-American resentment. They communicate to democracy activists and reform-minded governments worldwide that Washington is an unreliable partner. And that sows confusion and sabotages our diplomacy — the opposite of what Biden says his trip was trying to achieve. We can be sure other “allies,” whose support we need, have taken note.

3. Biden’s meeting also sent a dangerous message about the value the United States attaches to a free press. A grip-and-grin photograph with MBS signals to autocrats everywhere that you can quite literally get away with murdering a journalist as long as you possess a natural resource the United States wants badly enough.

4. When the image of Biden pressing flesh with Jamal’s murderer flashes around the world, what does it say to Vladimir Putin? Why should he take our threats seriously? The message to Putin is that he needs to figure out what he has, or what he can get, that the U.S. needs/wants.

Before Reagan agreed to visit the Soviet Union, he insisted that he be allowed to meet with Soviet dissidents. Biden could have shown some moral leadership by attaching a similar condition to his Saudi visit. In a country where total censorship, public floggings, beheadings, “disappearances” and hundreds of political prisoners are the norm, there certainly are enough dissidents to find a few for a meeting. Given how much MBS wanted some show of respectability in the form of a meeting with the U.S. President, Biden could/should have demanded the release of some political prisoners as a pre-condition to any meeting.

It's transparent to anyone who knows anything about negotiation strategies and tactics that Biden went into this visit with a great show of weakness. Is that the image of the U.S. he wants to project?

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Thanks. This is the answer I was looking for.

[Khun Paul]

No sorry America LOST any form of being important following Pres Number 45 antics, lately their own inhouse problems show the world just how dysfunctional it really is with even just ONE MAN stopping laws to assist the general Population. Moral values, USA does not have any . A fist bump is NOT pressing flesh .

Sometimes getting inside to talk is more important than telling the world just how holier than thou your country is.
In any event that crown fell long ago`.

At least J Biden is not seeking help from Pariah countries like Number 45 did ................!!!!!!!!!!

[Udon Map]

At least J Biden is not seeking help from Pariah countries...

That's the point, KP. Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" country. His word, not mine. Instead, he's cozying up to it.

No sorry America LOST any form of being important following Pres Number 45 antics...

Trump's presidency is accepted by the world as an anomaly, and not typically representative of the U.S.

A fist bump is NOT pressing flesh .

A fist bump is the Covid era version of a handshake. They're the same thing, have the same significance.

[Kenr6583]

Fifteen (15) of the Nineteen (19) terrorist involved in the 9/11 attacks, including the mastermind, were from Saudi Arabia, yet the United States attacked Iraq and Afghanistan.

In May 2017 the POTUS agreed to sell $110 billion worth of arms immediately and $350 billion worth of arms over a 10-year period to Saudi Arabia, even though the country had been accused of human rights violations for years.

In May 2018 Khashoggi was murdered, and the POTUS stated that the Crown Prince wasn’t involved because the Crown Prince said he wasn’t, and he believed him, even though Intelligent Agencies came to a different conclusion.

In October 2019 the POTUS sent over 2,000 troops to Saudi Arabia along with defense weapons, allegedly to be paid by Saudi Arabia, to protect their oil fields. So the United States became Saudi Arabia’s personal military force.

I’ve voiced my opinion about Saudi Arabia a few times before this. They’ve been legitimized long before Biden and have gotten away with doing whatever they want without any repercussions for a long time now. It disgusted me before this and it disgusts me what Biden did, but it’s nothing new.

[Udon Map]

Thanks. This is the answer I was looking for.

[Khun Paul]

At least J Biden is not seeking help from Pariah countries...

That's the point, KP. Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" country. His word, not mine. Instead, he's cozying up to it.

No sorry America LOST any form of being important following Pres Number 45 antics...

Trump's presidency is accepted by the world as an anomaly, and not typically representative of the U.S.

A fist bump is NOT pressing flesh .

A fist bump is the Covid era version of a handshake. They're the same thing, have the same significance.

Missed the point, not surprising, Biden is seeking help for the NATION , not for personal gain unlike No 45. Thereby his actions are altruistic something that should be applauded unlike the egotistical selfish moron !

[tamada]

At least J Biden is not seeking help from Pariah countries...

That's the point, KP. Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" country. His word, not mine. Instead, he's cozying up to it.

No sorry America LOST any form of being important following Pres Number 45 antics...

Trump's presidency is accepted by the world as an anomaly, and not typically representative of the U.S.

A fist bump is NOT pressing flesh .

A fist bump is the Covid era version of a handshake. They're the same thing, have the same significance.

Missed the point, not surprising, Biden is seeking help for the NATION , not for personal gain unlike No 45. Thereby his actions are altruistic something that should be applauded unlike the egotistical selfish moron !

Really KP? A politician who is "seeking help for the NATION" has got to be the dumbest post of the day. Next you'll be postulating that the politicians were better and more altruistic "back in the day".

Sheesh...

[Khun Paul]

At least J Biden is not seeking help from Pariah countries...

That's the point, KP. Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" country. His word, not mine. Instead, he's cozying up to it.

No sorry America LOST any form of being important following Pres Number 45 antics...

Trump's presidency is accepted by the world as an anomaly, and not typically representative of the U.S.

A fist bump is NOT pressing flesh .

A fist bump is the Covid era version of a handshake. They're the same thing, have the same significance.

Missed the point, not surprising, Biden is seeking help for the NATION , not for personal gain unlike No 45. Thereby his actions are altruistic something that should be applauded unlike the egotistical selfish moron !

Really KP? A politician who is "seeking help for the NATION" has got to be the dumbest post of the day. Next you'll be postulating that the politicians were better and more altruistic "back in the day".

Sheesh...

Cynical does not suit you ,mm so easy to knock someone, but, with 50% of the Senate vowing to deraIL ANYTHING J Biden puts forward, one has to ask yourself who IS working for the N ation certainly NOT THE Politicians who belong tol the REPUBLICAN p[arty that is for sure

[tamada]

^ And when your all-time favorite #45 was running the show, the Dems were all lovey dovey and happy to lend a hand?

Sorry, but I don't see political colours make any party better or worse when it comes to the self serving, living for the moment, I'm all right so screw you, fill your boots politicians and 'statesmen' anywhere who are winging it right now. Johnson and Wallace and Truss have all been to MBS's tent in the Saudi desert too.

[deankham]

Bloody fist bumps, are we not allowed to return to the good old fashioned hand shake.

Stuff Covid, that was last years news.

Back to the OP, no-one actually cares about Kashhoggi (apart from his family). After all he was a Saudi, killed by the Saudi's. No difference to what the Russians do on a weekly basis.
MBS has money to burn and everyone wants a piece of the action.

[jackspratt]

Hopefully people do care about Khashoggi, or what he represents at least.

A socially and politically backward kingdom decides it is OK to send an assassination team to a 3rd country, to carve up (literally) a mild critic, inside their own consulate building.

I recognise the realpolitik (ie oil, and Iran), but that doesn't make a dictatorish ***** like MBS right, or that his actions (and not just this) should be glossed over.