President Trump has taken a beating from the Jewish media over the Jamal Khashoggi killing. He has chosen not to make a big issue out of Mohammed Bin Salman’s likely involvement, choosing instead to keep the big arms deal intact.
There may have even been a deal between Trump and the Saudis to help lower oil prices by increasing production in exchange for not giving them trouble over the Khashoggi matter. He just thanked them on Twitter for helping lower oil prices.
Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 21, 2018
But this entire arrangement with the Saudis benefits the Saudis much more than it does the American people. This country literally would not exist without American support. And then of course we have all the business with the Saudis and the 9/11 attacks. I would have preferred that Trump took a more aggressive stance against the Saudis. He certainly had a good excuse to do it.
I mean, I would gladly trade higher oil prices in exchange for untangling ourselves from this horrible relationship with the Saudis. That’s why it is increasingly important for us to become energy independent. It will more easily allow us to tell the Saudis and these other desert dwellers to choke on their oil.
In the short term, Trump should at minimum use his leverage over the Saudis to bring an end to the war in Yemen. But long term, untangling ourselves from the Saudis is an absolute necessity.
The relationship with the Saudis has also been strategic alliance designed to benefit Israel since they serve as a firewall against Iran. So that’s another reason why we need to untangle ourselves from the Saudis.
