This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Saudi Arabia Warns Iran: "Stop Meddling In Our Neighborhood!"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

In “Mid-East Coup: As Russia Pounds Militant Targets, Iran Readies Ground Invasions While Saudis Panic,” we outlined what we think is likely a close approximation of Moscow and Tehran’s plan for the region. Here is a brief summary of what we said: 

Putin looks to have viewed this as the ultimate geopolitical win-win. That is, Russia gets to i) expand its influence in the Middle East in defiance of Washington and its allies, a move that also helps to protect Russian energy interests and preserves the Mediterranean port at Tartus, and ii) support its allies in Tehran and Damascus thus preserving the counterbalance to the US-Saudi-Qatar alliance. 

 

Meanwhile, Iran gets to enjoy the support of the Russian military juggernaut on the way to protecting the delicate regional nexus that is the source of Tehran’s Mid-East influence. It is absolutely critical for Iran to keep Assad in power, as the loss of Syria to the West would effectively cut the supply line between Iran and Hezbollah.

 

The same dynamic is playing out in Iraq. That is, Iran is fighting ISIS via various Shiite militias just as it’s fighting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen via the Shia Houthis. It is thus extremely significant that Baghdad has agreed to share intelligence with Syria and Russia, as that effectively means the Iran-backed Shiite militias battling for control of Iraq will enjoy the support of the Russian military. 

 

This is nothing short of a Middle Eastern coup, as Iran looks to displace Saudi Arabia as the regional power broker and as Russia looks to supplant the US as the superpower puppet master. 

 

Do not expect Saudi Arabia and Israel to remain on the sidelines here.

Make no mistake, the stakes couldn't be higher for Riyadh. Assad's ouster would have removed a key Iranian ally and cut off Tehran from Hezbollah.

Not only would that outcome pave the way for deals like the Qatar-Turkey natural gas line, it would also cement Sunni control over the region on the way to dissuading Tehran at a time when the lifting of crippling economic sanctions is set to allow the Iranians to shed the pariah state label and return to the international stage not only in terms of energy exports, but in terms of diplomacy as well.

Just about the last thing Riyadh wants to see ahead of Iran's resurgence, is a powergrab on the doorstep of the Arabian peninsula. 

The situation is made worse by what's going on in Yemen. The Houthis are backed by the Quds Force which means that the battle between the Saudi-led coalition that also includes Qatar and the UAE, is simply another manifestation of Riyadh attempting to rid the area of Tehran's influence. Here's a clip which purports to show the Saudi-led coalition bombing the Houthis:

One must also factor Iraq into the equation. For all intents and purposes (and the US knows this), it's lost to Tehran. IRGC commanders have deep political ties in Baghdad and control the various Shiite militias battling alongside the Iraqi regulars. Because the main adversary is ISIS, neither the West nor its Sunni allies can protest unless they are willing to admit that they have at one time or another assisted the fighters that went on the become Islamic State. 

In short, Riyadh is in a tough spot. Going from Yemen to Syria would have been an escalation as things stood three months ago. But now, the Saudis may have missed their window. Entering the war in force as they've done in Yemen would mean direct confrontation with the Russians and Iranians and that would represent a monumental roll of the dice. 

That said, the Saudis can ill-afford to sit on the sidelines and watch as Iran becomes the new regional power broker which is why, as Bloomberg noted earlier today, Riyadh will likey step up its support for the various proxy armies fighting for control of Syria. Here's more:

The principal risk for Russia is that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, who support armed groups fighting Assad’s forces including radical Islamists, will sharply increase their military supplies in response to the Russian intervention, said the Russian officials.

 

“The Russians have not seen the heat of Syria yet,” said Mustafa Alani, the Dubai-based director of National Security and Terrorism Studies at the Gulf Research Center. “The regional powers can give the Russians limited time to see if their intervention can lead to a political settlement -- if not, there is going to be a proxy war.”

Of course it's already a proxy war and has been for years, but with the Quds Force and Hezbollah advancing on Aleppo, time is running out for Riyadh and Doha to make a move and on Monday, Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir stepped up the rhetoric, effectively telling the Iranians to stay out of the neighborhood. Here's more via AFP:

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Monday urged Iran to stop "meddling" in the affairs of the kingdom's neighbours, warning that Riyadh stood ready to confront Tehran's actions.

 

"We wish that Iran would change its policies and stop meddling in the affairs of other countries in the region, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen," Adel al-Jubeir said at joint press briefing with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Riyadh.

 

"It is difficult to have positive relations" with Tehran, "when Saudi Arabia and its people are the target of continuous aggression" from the kingdom's arch rival, said Jubeir.

 

Saudi Arabia supports rebel groups who are fighting to oust Assad in the Syrian conflict.

 

"We will make sure that we confront Iran's actions and shall use all our political, economic and military powers to defend our territory and people," said Jubeir.

 

He accused Iran of acting like a "colonising state" in Syria, and demanded it pull its fighters out of the country and stop supplying arms to Assad.

 

Otherwise, "it will be difficult (for Iran) to play a role" in finding a solution for the conflict in Syria, he said.

Now, there are a number of amusing things about those statements. First, it's not as though Iran wasn't invited to Syria. Bashar al-Assad most certianly welcomes the presence of the IRGC and as mentioned above, the Shiite militias in Iraq are battling alongside the Iraqi army, while Baghdad has just inked an intelligence sharing agreement with Tehran. Throw in the Quds deep political connections and it would be difficult to somehow say that the Iranians aren't welcome in Iraq. So this idea of Iran being a "colonizing state" is a bit tenuous. Also, while Iran may have been invited to Syria, one would be hard pressed to say the same thing about the various extremists groups backed by Riyadh and Doha.

Furthermore, it's rather strange for the Saudis to make statements like "it will be difficult for Iran to play a role in finding a solution to the conflict." We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but Iran is already playing a role in finding a "solution" - they're summarily wiping out the groups funded by the Saudis on the way to restoring the regime. If anyone is going to have a "difficult" time playing a part, it's the Saudis. 

On the "bright" side, the US military industrial complex looks likely to a boost from it all. Here's Bloomberg

The Pentagon is notifying Congress of a planned sale to Saudi Arabia of as many as four Littoral Combat Ships for $11.25 billion, according to a U.S. official, as the U.S. works to bolster defenses of its Gulf allies after the nuclear deal with Iran.

 

The ships are part of a planned modernization, replacing older U.S.-built vessels in the Royal Saudi Navy’s Eastern Fleet. The sale also begins to deliver on President Barack Obama’s pledge to improve the military capabilities of the U.S.’s Arab allies. Saudi Arabia and other nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council sought such reassurances before acquiescing to the U.S.-led deal with Iran on its nuclear program.

 

The Saudis and other Sunni Arab nations were unnerved that, in exchange for curbing its nuclear program, their Shiite rival Iran will win relief from crippling economic sanctions and access to billions of dollars in frozen funds. Russia’s military intervention in Syria alongside Iran to back President Bashar al-Assad has further raised sectarian tensions in the region.

 

The ships sold to the Saudis will be the first major export of a new, U.S.-built surface naval vessel in years, the U.S. official said.

 

The Littoral Combat Ship, designed for operations in shallow coastal waters, is made in two versions by Lockheed Martin Corp. and Austal Ltd. The Saudis have indicated they’re interested in the Lockheed ship, according to previous reports, including by Defense News.

The takeaway here is that it's gut check time for the Saudis. With Iran set for a return to the world stage and with a resurgent Russia backing Tehran's regional power grabs, Riyadh (and Ankara, and Doha) must decide whether to i) step up support for Sunni extremists proxy armies and risk being publicly derided by Putin for supporting terrorism, ii) intervene directly as in Yemen and risk starting a world war, iii) do nothing and watch Iran become regional power broker. 

Get the popcorn...

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Tue, 10/20/2015 - 13:57 | 6690230 roisaber
roisaber's picture

There must be a cloning facility somewhere, where they churn out the kind of sick personalities required to utter such hypocritical insanities without breaking into a fit of self-depricating laughter.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:00 | 6690241 knukles
knukles's picture

Flash!  Rumble and shake!  A literal force field of wind.... an endless amazingly stron

 

Et voila!  A glow in the dark irradiated glassine parking lot!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:04 | 6690264 Looney
Looney's picture

Iran to Saudi Arabia: "Up yours!"  ;-)

Looney

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:11 | 6690296 Dame Ednas Possum
Dame Ednas Possum's picture

Iran would bomb them back to the Stone Age..except thhey're already there...and I know, I've worked in the kingdom.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:33 | 6690423 Bumpo
Bumpo's picture

The US had working relationships with Saddam Husein and Qaddafi. Too bad they fucked it all up.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:39 | 6690465 Macchendra
Macchendra's picture

Hypocrisy... meter.. broken!!!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:31 | 6690739 Deathrips
Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:39 | 6690797 MalteseFalcon
MalteseFalcon's picture

One good thing about that nukuloor deal with Iran, the Saudi's will now have to buy all kinds of great munitions from the US.

And the Saudi's are also fighting a two front war.  Cool.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:18 | 6690995 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

I expect there to be three nuclear powers in the middle east in 20 years.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:23 | 6691023 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

Or none.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:20 | 6691177 The Big Ching-aso
The Big Ching-aso's picture

I hope they can keep all this nice and conventional vs nice and nuclear, man.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 18:15 | 6691494 strannick
strannick's picture

A fucking KINGDOM lecturing anyone on anything?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:11 | 6690629 logically possible
logically possible's picture

The U.S. under leadership of Bushes and Clintons have destroyed any possible trust in the United States. That tradition continues with the current occupants of government officials involved in world affairs. When are our puppet allies going to wake up?    

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 22:15 | 6692520 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

That pic of Putin munching popcorn cracks me up every time I see it! :>D

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:10 | 6690300 algol_dog
algol_dog's picture

Hell's about to break out there and the media is not giving much attention to it, including traders (ala CNBC).

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:45 | 6690503 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

Adel just needs to change his name to Riyadh Bob and trade the white dress for some olive drab... then the press will start paying attention.

Crying wolf with the "Saudi Arabia and its people are the target of continuous aggression" garbage just isn't serious, when it appears Tehran is thus far avoided stirring that pot.  Moreover, if Iran were to be "demoted" back to pariah-State-status, the risk reward calculus for interfering with Saudi oil production and export capabilities would turn ugly (for everyone except Putin and Big Oil).

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 22:16 | 6692524 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

"We will roast their bellies!"

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:41 | 6690806 o r c k
o r c k's picture

Presstitutes are simple traitors. Literally. The blood of millions is on their hands.

Where are the days when a Country invading another Country was seen globally as a bad thing

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:15 | 6690313 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

The Saudis should just seize the Iranian Mullahs cash that is stored safely in their GCC bank accounts...

Millionaire Mullahs - General Politics and Current Issues - ShiaChat.com

 

Carlin was right folks... everywhere you go it's all a giant scam.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:18 | 6690342 38BWD22
38BWD22's picture

 

 

Yeah, hit the mullahs where it really hurts: their wallets!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:22 | 6690365 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

You do that then how in the hell are the Mullahs gonna be able to afford to send their kids to Cambridge?  Have you thought of that?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:13 | 6690648 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Oxford, a more classical edujamacation.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:29 | 6690733 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

That's literally 'Littoral' - or is it littorally literal...?

Hmmm...

 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:43 | 6690821 o r c k
o r c k's picture

Let's check the Literature.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:21 | 6691010 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

You need to wait for the Hajj... go big or go home...

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:09 | 6690275 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Relax, let's talk this through crazy fanatic against crazy fanatic.

The sane people stay at the door and you can only bring 20 weapons of choice with you in the room....

and a naked goat will dance to call the mood...

And Obama can be the moderator...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 22:17 | 6692528 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

You're on(to) something there! :>D

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:22 | 6690375 LasVegasDave
LasVegasDave's picture

Based on the size of its territory and population, Iran is involved in more foreign wars than the US.

 

Just sayin....

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:26 | 6691036 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

It's not even Happy Hour yet where you're at... You honestly need to have someone monitor your dosage intake.

Standard Disclaimer: And I need a drink far worse than you... 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:35 | 6691069 madashellron
madashellron's picture

Just saying, prove your point. Because you can not prove it can you.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:07 | 6691201 Max Steel
Max Steel's picture

You said you'll leave and still you're here. Just Sayin'

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:32 | 6691336 NotGrokkingIt
NotGrokkingIt's picture

LOL... because when the US bombs the shit out of some country it's not considered WAR.  

Um let's see, what shall we call it?

Kinetic Action

Regime Change

Humanitarian Aid

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:14 | 6690236 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

Uh, excuse me, but you guys live in the same neighborhood.  And besides, the dickhead Saudi Royals make the Mullahs of Iran look, well, not so bad, something to aspire to.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:27 | 6690400 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

The Saudis are a tough act to beat but the Mullahs that are robbing Iran blind are giving it a good shot...

"Most of the good properties and contracts, say dissident members of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, ended up in the hands of mullahs, their associates and, not least, Rafsanjani's family, who rose from modest origins as pistachio farmers."

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:33 | 6690416 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

Right you are, but if tomorrow you had to choose your land of exile would it be Iran or SA?  For me it would be Iran in a heartbeat.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:46 | 6690480 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

The climate and physical terrain of Iran is beautiful and the people around the world are usually great wherever you go.

Their leaders on the other hand are without exception power and wealth hungry sociopaths at best and more often then not complete psychopaths. The Saudi and Iranian leadership need each other to create each others bogus existential threat or else their people would quickly turn on them instead.

But yes... Iran is preferable to Saudi even though they would both prefer to see me headless...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:14 | 6690971 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

Their leaders on the other hand are without exception power and wealth hungry sociopaths 

 

 

How does that differ from other world leaders?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:06 | 6690246 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

One must also factor Iraq into the equation. For all intents and purposes (and the US knows this), it's lost to Tehran. IRGC commanders have deep political ties in Baghdad and control the various Shiite militias battling alongside the Iraqi regulars. Because the main adversary is ISIS, neither the West nor its Sunni allies can protest unless they are willing to admit that they have at one time or another assisted the fighters that went on the become Islamic State.

1. Desert Shield

2. Desert Storm

3. Desert Farewell

4. Just Deserts

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:20 | 6690361 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

 

 

It serves our interests well to have the Sunni and Shia at each others throats.  If they weren't I'm sure a couple Mosque bombings would

fix that.  Their lack of cohesiveness plays right into TPTB's hands.   Think how different things would have been if the Sioux, Pawnee, Crow

and Cheyenne had formed a united front from the gitgo.  Rather, their petty squabbles were used to bring them down.  Something for the

Red & Blue parties to mull over as well.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:16 | 6690646 datura
datura's picture

this is not really a conflict between sunnis and shias! Assad's wife is a sunni muslim for example and that is why many moderate sunnis support him too. Actually most of the Assad army consists of loyal sunni muslims! A sectarian conflict - that is just something that Saudi Arabia wants us to believe to hide their power grab. Another example is the sunni Egypt, who officially approved Russia's intervention in Syria and where you would often find Putin's pictures and T-shirts on the streets. Many Egyptians are grateful that Russia backed them, when they threw out the USA-backed Muslim Brotherhood. Pakistanis are also more and more inclined towards Russia (Russia will even build a gas pipeline there). 

 

 

Quote: "Russia has had strong ties with the Mideast for years. The fascination with Putin is driven largely by a longstanding suspicion of the West and anger about decades of U.S. intervention in the region that many say has only led to more wars and sectarianism. Many hope a stronger Russia would lead to a more balanced approach."

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:47 | 6691378 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

 

 

Admittedly, I'm not an expert on these issues; but I suppose I was taking the aerial 100 mile view of Iran vs. Saudi Arabia,  or

Shia vs. Sunni.  Looking at the interplay of Hezbollah and the Houthi vs. their respective adversaries, it seems the fissures

lie on this divide, but I'll concede that the issue is very complex.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:37 | 6691359 Pure Evil
Pure Evil's picture

The native tribes would still have lost.

Logistics and sheer numbers.

Native tribes had no access to gun and ammunition factories and their hunter/gatherer culture limited their ability to produce sufficient quantities of warriors to fight off the pale faces that did have those abilities. It was agriculture that allowed the pale faces to feed an ever expanding population.

In fact the total annihilation of the native tribes would have happened sooner except for the fact that the pale faces spent nearly five years decimating each other over something that would have ended as soon as the internal combustion engine could be placed in a tractor.

Just as robotics is now replacing the common worker the gas powered tractor would have replaced the slave. Just like it replaced the white share croppers in Oklahoma during the Great Depression as can be seen in the movie The Grapes of Wrath.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:45 | 6691397 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

 

 

You are right about the inevitable outcome; but if the natives had taken a militant stance and annialated all the newcomers

repeatedly, I feel confident they could have bought themselves much more time.  Booze and microbes played a large role in undermining

their position also.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 23:50 | 6692837 Motasaurus
Motasaurus's picture

It probably didn't help that the North American native tribes were decimated by the plagues the Spanish brought with them to Central America a scant decade before the English and French showed up in the North American landscape. 

It has been estimated by serious historians (as opposed to those employed to write the touchy-feely text books) that the population of North America exceded that of Europe at the time of fist contact between the Spanish and the Central American nations. The "wilderness" that seemed so hospitable to the Europeans as they moved west was hospitable because a couple of decades previously it was heavily inhabited, productively farmed and well maintained by the now deceased Indian tribes.

Had the plagues not wiped out ~85% of the North American population the English and French would never have managed to take the continent.  

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:25 | 6690386 Mountainview
Mountainview's picture

5. Please serve dessert

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:01 | 6690250 mtndds
mtndds's picture

nothing exciting will happen.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:11 | 6690312 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Exciting shit is already happening.  Historians are going to look back at this era and go cross-eyed at how fucked up it was (is.)  The only thing is that it's not happening in our back yard.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:14 | 6690330 Dame Ednas Possum
Dame Ednas Possum's picture

Not yet...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:49 | 6690852 o r c k
o r c k's picture

Our "leaders" are very lucky they won't be around to read the judgments of history. Chapter One: Psychopaths take over the planet. World War 3 begins.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:04 | 6690251 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Saudi Arabia has been supporting assorted terrorists for decades and meddling in everyone's affairs.

In fact, Bandar threatened Putin with terrorist attacks

Time for the cruel, criminal, corrupt Saudi regime to collapse

Friday, January 3, 2014 12:31 PM

 

Prince Bandar threatens Putin with Chechen terror attacks

http://en.alalam.ir/news/1551009

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:09 | 6690295 blabam
blabam's picture

Why not both?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:35 | 6690434 blabam
blabam's picture

People on here actually support the retarded Islamist government of Iran?... I thought this site was libertarian oriented. 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:14 | 6690326 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Yes, collapse would be good.  If they are attacked, then the US will have to step in directly to uphold our treaty with the scumbags and to defend the dollar.  Now you're talking about a good shot at an actual WWIII.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:09 | 6690933 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

Wouldn't it be ironic if our Peace Prize President who not only totally fucked up the Middle East, holds the record for presidential assassinations, on top of that manages to get us involved in a regional war between Iran and Saudi Arabia with Russian military lurking nearby?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:01 | 6690254 Rock On Roger
Rock On Roger's picture

Good for the goose is good for the gander.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:03 | 6690259 socalbeach
socalbeach's picture

That's rich considering SA's prime minister just said this:

.

"Assad Can Stay Only Until Transition Council"

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:03 | 6690262 Yttrium Gold Ni...
Yttrium Gold Nitrogen's picture

Who's calling the kettle black?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:03 | 6690265 Oldballplayer
Oldballplayer's picture

The Saudi's are gonna start a war because Oil Prices are down?

Thats ironic, right?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:05 | 6690267 Impoverished Ps...
Impoverished Psychologist's picture

Notice how the rhetoric already treats Syria like a resource and not a soveriegn state with a government, only Putin seems to recognise that there is a functioning government in Syria which until it stood in the way of the neoliberal hegemony, everyone was willing to accept.

Now that the $ hegemony requires fresh meat Assad was to be fed into the mincer - Vlad has other ideas.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:05 | 6690270 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

Go Houties.... here are some manpads and anti tank weapons... go nuts... hell, here are some long range missiles... fill yer boots

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:17 | 6690274 SillySalesmanQu...
SillySalesmanQuestion's picture

WWW III is imminent...al thanks to our gubbermint, giving WMD's, to inexperienced, half-mad, religious, psychopaths.
Reminds me of the scene in The Wild Bunch, with the crazy, drunk Mexican general Mapache, attempting to shoot a .30 caliber machine gun for the first time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvDAqlmOQ_w

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:17 | 6690341 Oldballplayer
Oldballplayer's picture

I guess the good news is that if WWIIII starts, those of us short the market will be rich.  We will be rich for 15-30 minutes depending on missile flight path.  But we will be rich, bitchez.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:35 | 6691068 yogibear
yogibear's picture

There won't be a market. Even the equipment off-site will eventually stop.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:54 | 6690556 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

...giving WMD's to "inexperienced, half-mad, religious psycopaths" has been SOP for in the USSA for over half a century, so far it's worked, insofar as the nutters haven't actually used those devices.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:11 | 6690310 Tyrone Shoelaces
Tyrone Shoelaces's picture

And our wonderful hopenchange gov is doing all he can to make sure the Shiites are nuclear armed.

This will not end well..

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:59 | 6690884 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

And your proposed solution?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:11 | 6690314 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

Phew!!!

A good thing! 'Cause the Islamicist Jihadists from Iran are a lot better than the Sunni ones!!!

It is not like THEY believe in conversion by the sword, or a religious fundamentalist government to enforce it, or in corporal disproportionate punishment - like getting slashed with a razor blade - for the crime of wearing unapproved clothing.

HEY! WAIT A MINUTE!!!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:15 | 6690333 besnook
besnook's picture

yea, muzzies are so much worse than the zionazis who want to kill them for empire.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:11 | 6690630 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

Iranians are Persians, not arabs

Iran has not started any war in over 200 year

                    but has had plenty of dirty done to them

                    Iran started none of this mayhem

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:54 | 6690875 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

A little known factoid is that the Ayatollah Kohmneni or however you spell it disbanded the military as a threat to the people after the revolution. After being attacked by Saddam Hussein and gassed a time or two the Iranians changed their minds about the need for a strong military. We backed the wrong side in that war for fear of what exactly?

A terrible missed opportunity. Obama's apology for the overthrow of the iranian republic if given right after the revolution might have made a huge difference over the subsequent decades. Now it is meaningless. The die is cast.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:14 | 6690325 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

they care so much about their people, we know WHO their people are too and it isn't the general population.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:14 | 6690327 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

STOP SELLING WEAPONS TO THESE FUCKS ALREADY!! FOR FUCK SAKE WILL SOMEONE IN THE SENATE/HOUSE STAND UP ALREADY???

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:47 | 6690844 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

Dude we need the money. Have you seen all our various deficits?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:19 | 6690353 CHoward
CHoward's picture

Obama is a pure genius - ALL of this was by his own grand design.  Bravo.  America has zero allies now.  Job well done. 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:35 | 6690436 dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

who cares...Lockheed got another contract.   What game are you watching?

 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:37 | 6690778 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

As did the UK, whose govt is lead by a necrophiliac zooophile. And you thought the Saudis were perverted.

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:43 | 6690822 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

Never assume conspiracy when incompetency is equally explanatory lol.   But our greatest most stalwart ally in the Middle East, the Chosen People, are still with us and have our best interests at heart.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:21 | 6690362 where_is the_nuke
where_is the_nuke's picture

Saudi royal family is Crypto Jewish.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:24 | 6690385 Rock On Roger
Rock On Roger's picture

I'm sure Israel has nothing to do with any of this mayhem.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:39 | 6690468 Deathrips
Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:20 | 6691003 Alvin Fernald
Alvin Fernald's picture

"Sorry, this page was not found."
Nice link.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:25 | 6690391 danepol
danepol's picture

Once again, thanks and appreciation to ZH for carrying news and comment found nowhere else on the web. Truly remarkable and amazing website.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:10 | 6690401 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Its like these These dipshit new Saudi Kings finally looked at a map and realized the precariousness of their miserable existence with Syria and Yemen going all wrong, Iraq switching jerseys and their own baby ISIS could look south for easier pickings. PANIC, quick send em some ships.

Note from Vlad: Don't you EVER come to MY Kremlin again, drink my wine in my own country and threaten me or threaten my countries resources with an oil war again you little inbred flea infested disgusting dictator jihad wannabes. Now get the hell out and don't come back ever if you manage to survive. DOOR SLAMS

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:30 | 6690413 NubianSundance
NubianSundance's picture

With the UK and US begging to sell Saudi Arabia even more weapons than you can point a stick at, a careless discarded match could explode the entire country to pieces.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:30 | 6690414 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

Saudi.... hypocritical assholes... 

Houthies deserve long range Anti aircraft systems...  please send them asap. 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:37 | 6690449 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

what is funny is... does US accept US dollars for the Littoral ships... or do they ask for something else...

why would US want US dollars when they are so plentiful in the USA and printed like mad...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:02 | 6690589 dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

because we still want them to keep taking worthless paper for their oil

so we'll keep selling them stuff until they don't want to use the dollar then we'll bomb them like everyone else

 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:37 | 6690455 datura
datura's picture

Saudi Arabia has been threatening and pushing Russia for years (on the behest of USA). They have been supporting terrorism in Chechnya, where it most hurts Russia. Saudi prince Bandar threatened Putin personally before the Olympics. So what did they expect??? Russia is just showing them that enough is enough.

Saudi clerics even declared jihad against Russia. Well, Russians are not impressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUxZSMNRQk0  

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:46 | 6690500 Allen_H
Allen_H's picture

If it was me, I would send them all an official letter with only 'FUCK YOU CUNT, put your head between your legs and kiss that young boy goodbye !'

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:09 | 6690937 o r c k
o r c k's picture

Duck and Cover

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:59 | 6690578 css1971
css1971's picture

Start shipping weapons to the Saudi factions which are against the main royals.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:07 | 6690613 Super Broccoli
Super Broccoli's picture

The Pentagon is notifying Congress of a planned sale to Saudi Arabia of as many as four Littoral Combat Ships for $11.25 billion, according to a U.S. official, as the U.S. works to bolster defenses of its Gulf allies after the nuclear deal with Iran.

 

3 billion per coastal combat ship ????? sounds like a rip off for sitting ducks !!!! man how wide is the ormuz straight ? like 1m30secs for a cruise missile isnt it ?

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:17 | 6690671 dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

dont worry, Mossad already got them booby trapped to blow up whenever they want more false flags

 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:25 | 6690712 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

Now I get it. They are great customers for the MIC. That is why we support a corrupt wahhabist Monarchy lol

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:59 | 6690896 JohninMK
JohninMK's picture

Gotta spend those $ before the crash.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:10 | 6690625 kaboomnomic
kaboomnomic's picture

Errr.... DUH!? !? !?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING CURRENTLY, SAUDI??

And what EXACTLY you means by YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, Saudi??

Karma's is a bitch, eh? Saudi...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:20 | 6690693 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

And why are we in bed with a corrupt Monarchy?  Isnt hereditary rule sorta against our principles?  It matters not who controls the government there.  They have to keep the oil flowing or they wont be in power long.

 

The monarchy will fall someday.  When it does the new government won't like us much since we are seen as propping up the House of Saud.  Maybe they are propping the USA up.  Just as likely lol but it is appearances that count

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:12 | 6690637 Ghost of Robotrader
Ghost of Robotrader's picture

Van Buren at his inaugural address 1837 described a much different United States:

"Abroad we enjoy the respect and, with scarcely an exception, the
friendship of every nation at home, while our Government quietly but
efficiently performs the sole legitimate end of political institutions --in
doing the greatest good to the greatest number --we present an aggregate of
human prosperity surely not elsewhere to be found...We sedulously cultivate the
friendship of all nations as the conditions most compatible with our welfare
and the principles of our Government. We decline alliances as adverse to our
peace...We have no disposition and we disclaim all right to meddle in disputes,
whether internal or foreign, that may molest other countries, regarding them in
their actual state as social communities, and preserving a strict neutrality in
all their controversies"

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:56 | 6690882 scaleindependent
scaleindependent's picture

Oh how far we've fallen!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:15 | 6690976 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

Back then, we honored the God Scripture, now we ignore all His ways and all have gone astray and so the outcome is predictable.  Look what happened to ancient Israel as an example as it was utterly destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.  However, God has promised to restore Israel, but not the US.  All in the future.

 

The US is being utterly destroyed from the inside out as we now legislate immorality and have been Abandoned by God.

 

Just listen and think about when this was preached and consider where we are today, then think of the future.  It becomes crystal clear in a real bad way.

"When God Abandons's a Nation"  http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/80-314

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:18 | 6690988 Teh Finn
Teh Finn's picture

Good sermon.  That one is getting passed around quite a bit!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 18:41 | 6691577 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Fuck your imaginary god of the the camel raping sand dwellers from the middle east.

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:26 | 6691778 bilbert
bilbert's picture

Meh - the whole "god" business keeps all the players, playing their parts for their very human masters.

Refusing to play along is the first step in freeing yourself. 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:41 | 6690803 scaleindependent
scaleindependent's picture

Who would have thought that an ancient Islamic grudge between two branches of that religion would lead to WWIII.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:51 | 6690861 besnook
besnook's picture

the zionazis who started the conflict.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:09 | 6690936 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

Never about religion; always about resources.  The "religion card" is akin to the "race card".  Everyone has a form of religion unless they are in a coma based on its broadest definition. 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:48 | 6690847 DosZap
DosZap's picture

"The US had working relationships with Saddam Husein and Qaddafi. Too bad they fucked it all up."

 

The Globalist interests and the Caliphate could not begin to spread had WE not on PURPOSE deposed these two monsters, with a BIGGER ones.Sharia nucakes,again, thank you OBoooooby,you evil plan along with your cabal bros Bush Sr, and Jr, Clitt-on, have just about completed the task of setting the stage for RE ENTRY.

Sadaam and Quaddafi were pussycats compared to what the US has unleashed( re-state that, it's cabal of dark gvt leaders).

The Uber Puppetmasters.

 

Even So

Come Lord Jesus

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:56 | 6690883 alphahammer
alphahammer's picture

 

Unless Putin decides to invade Saudi Arabia with real Russian troops and weaponary, the "House of Saud" has him AND the Iranians by the short hairs.

WHY?

Because Putin and Iran live hand to mouth via oil sales. Saudi Arabia just kicks up production and $15 oil and both Putin and Iran are finished... BAM! There is NO way the wheels stay on their economies at $15 oil. The well sharpened pitchforks will now suddenly parade around heads of "brilliant military generals" by the Russian and Iranian peeps to make a point. A very well defined point...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:07 | 6690927 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

Why do you think the Saudi's invaded Yemen?  Answer:  Saudi's have about 10 or LESS years of oil left and Yemen, which has plenty, hasn't even been tapped and have a nice sea port with great access to Europe; Putin will not allow that either.  The Saudi's are doing what Turkey has done; playing both sides of the fence and that never ends well for such nations.  Time will reveal all.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:52 | 6691129 alphahammer
alphahammer's picture

 

 

"Why do you think the Saudi's invaded Yemen?  Answer:  Saudi's have about 10 or LESS years of oil "

Yes and all the "experts" said SA could not pump at the current levels -- yet they do. 

Let's not forget the massive number of "hydrocarbon experts" that said Peak Oil was a real  thing and that there was "no new large oil finds possible" -- yet that is exactly has happened time and time again. Witness your comment re Yemen.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:20 | 6691755 smacker
smacker's picture

Keep in mind that Peak Oil was never about "running out of oil", just the peak of "easy oil". The Peak Oil argument is that new oil discoveries of "easy oil" are lower than the consumption rate of present wells and the exhaustion of many wells. Tar sands and other new finds are mostly not of easy oil but more costly to extract and often require a lot more processing to be usable.

Saudi's Ghawar well has a reported "water cut" of well over 50% according to the late Matt Simmons who died prematurely not long after revealing that to the world.

The real shock on oil will be whenever the global economy recovers and demand rises. Then watch how the price of oil rises and plunges the world back into recession. Meaning that the global economic depression is masking Peak Oil.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:47 | 6691117 pitterrier
pitterrier's picture

A barrage of Russian cruise missiles can kick "down" Saudi production just as quickly and the House of Saud is burnt pita.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:00 | 6691162 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

I think the Saudis are thinking more about Iranian missiles doing that!

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:02 | 6690906 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

The current King, the hypocrite, will not be in power by the end of the year.  I thank God i was born in the US as opposed to the middle-east or the Congo.  I had no say in it; He did.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:03 | 6690910 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

Putin needs to make some pallet drops to the Yemenise. 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:12 | 6690953 smacker
smacker's picture

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister "We wish that Iran would change its policies and stop meddling in the affairs of other countries in the region" [...] Adel al-Jubeir said [...]

This has to be the largest dose of duplicitous verbal crap I've heard in some time.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 16:37 | 6691072 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

I looked at a few of the problem sets... (way to make me feel stupid before leaving work and my cow-orkers behind for the day.)

 

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 05:17 | 6693248 vesna
vesna's picture

no, you should just put more effort into it

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:07 | 6691204 Phillyguy
Phillyguy's picture

This is truly theater of the Absurd. In 2002, Michael Gordon and Judy Miller published an article in the paper of record, alleging that Saddam Hussein was trying to obtain parts for an atomic bomb (Link: www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/world/threats-responses-iraqis-us-says-hussein-intensifies-quest-for-bomb-parts.html?pagewanted=all). This information, later proven false, was used by Colin Powell in his now infamous U.N. Speech in 2003, as casus belli for a US attack on Iraq. Over a decade later, these “campaigns” have cost US taxpayers $ trillions and US troops are still in Iraq (and Afghanistan). The end result of this has been failed states in Afghanistan, Iraq (add to list, Libya, Yemen, Syria?) and the creation of ISIS/ISIL/Daesh. So basically, the current problems in the ME, including Iran’s rise to power, are a direct result of US foreign policy that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have joined. If you don’t want problems like this to develop, don’t destroy otherwise stable countries.

 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:44 | 6691385 crashguru
crashguru's picture

THEY wanted this to develop, how else could they sell them so many weapons??

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:15 | 6691732 alphahammer
alphahammer's picture

 

And when Saddam died? There is no stability in a region whereby everybody has hated and wanted to kill each other for thousands of years. It's all just a new cycle of violence.

 

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:40 | 6691375 theyjustcantstop
theyjustcantstop's picture

I hate to disagree but they're, already, 8 nuclear powers in the m.e. , us, Israel, uk, france", Russia, pakistain, china, and india.

I think that's the same thing Putin said in front of the un. council, and on Charlie's show, Syria is an ally, and ask for support, that makes it his neighborhood

s.a. been working so long with the us, and Israel, they think the whole world is their neighborhood.

 

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:57 | 6691433 shutterbug
shutterbug's picture

correction...

 

They think they OWN the whole world ...

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 17:58 | 6691428 shutterbug
shutterbug's picture

Anyone got popcorn???

 

The only thing is ... it might end in a success for USA government ... WW 3

Then they have finally their wish come true.

 

 

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 01:07 | 6693006 onmail1
onmail1's picture

Syriana ahoy 

Saudis are gonna lose

Lose the oil & lose your country

Start planning now to run away to Satan America and then to warm the bed of CabalA$$LickerHomObamma. Start practicing cock$ucking now you towelheadsChildrenOfHarlotsWahabbiSaudis

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!