How crazy is US-Saudi relationship?!

[Nikhil_cric]

On 9/19/2019 at 6:41 PM, Tibarn said:

There is also the case that the Saudi royal family is somewhat of a bulwark against some things much worse. Although they allow all kinds of stuff in those countries that non-Islamic people find uncouth, they don't fully implement sharia like ISIS does. The Arabian monarchies arguably prevent the rising of a more legitimate version of the Islamic State. 

The bulwark argument I don't agree with. After all the Americans had no issue s toppling dictators like Saddam , who for all his faults kept Islamist fundamentalists in check, to pursue their national interest. 

[Tibarn]

On 9/21/2019 at 1:22 AM, Nikhil_cric said:

The bulwark argument I don't agree with. After all the Americans had no issue s toppling dictators like Saddam , who for all his faults kept Islamist fundamentalists in check, to pursue their national interest. 

That's a fair point, but I would say, IMO, that Saudi Arabia is not comparable to other Islamic countries. It is the seat of power/center of the Islamic world. If their and the other Arab monarchies governments topple, a more legitimate Islamic State could be established IMO.

 

Then again, the US has toppled or helped destabilize several Islamic countries' governments over recent history, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, etc, but whether a "secular" dictator of an Islamic government the US seemed to think it could engage in nation-building and spread liberal-democracy to them, so maybe the US is dumb enough to think they could do it in SA as well, despite their repeated failures. 

[Muloghonto]

5 hours ago, Tibarn said:

That's a fair point, but I would say, IMO, that Saudi Arabia is not comparable to other Islamic countries. It is the seat of power/center of the Islamic world. If their and the other Arab monarchies governments topple, a more legitimate Islamic State could be established IMO.

 

Then again, the US has toppled or helped destabilize several Islamic countries' governments over recent history, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, etc, but whether a "secular" dictator of an Islamic government the US seemed to think it could engage in nation-building and spread liberal-democracy to them, so maybe the US is dumb enough to think they could do it in SA as well, despite their repeated failures. 

You hit the nail smack on its head re: uniqueness of Saudi Arabia. We do not want a democratic government there since the Arab revolution has shown how islamists are extremely adept at exploiting democracy in Muslim majority countries and an ISIS Khalif or Ameer ul momeneen sermonizing from the Kaaba will be far more potent a force 

[Tibarn]

On 9/20/2019 at 11:17 PM, Muloghonto said:

Well that’s true and sad. China is gonna cash in and Iran regime change may be a thing. We will see. However Iran and India will always have reasons to cooperate and those reasons will exist into foreseeable future. 

If China gets close with Iran, they will suddenly have the Bakistan-Iran relationship as a headache. The Bakistanis have threatened to nuke Iran at one point IIRC, and they have had firing between their forces on that border.  

[Muloghonto]

9 hours ago, Tibarn said:

If China gets close with Iran, they will suddenly have the Bakistan-Iran relationship as a headache. The Bakistanis have threatened to nuke Iran at one point IIRC, and they have had firing between their forces on that border.  

Yep. The problem of Iran in China isn’t a big one IMO unless Indian MEA really bollocked it up. This is because any infrastructure link between Iran and Central Asia will automatically help India, regardless of what China gets out of it. 

 

We we have to strategically turn the relation with India where it permanently favours India. And this will happen when Iran’s infrastructure is ready with CA and Russia. India would be the upper hand partner to Iran if played well, like Europe is to Egypt, as Egypt derives enormous benefit to being transit country for EU. Iran will be for us and I believe it will be a situation that will favour Indian and Iran( India more so).