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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBREAKING: TRUMP JUST LOST SAUDI ARABIA
I've been waiting and watching to see when news of this would hit DU and wider media, but I haven't seen it. Perhaps my search terms were the problem...
**BUT, trump insulted the Saudis and said MBS was "kissing his ass" at a Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund conference in Miami last Friday.
His exact words: He didnt think he would be kissing my ass. He really didnt. And now he has to be nice to me. You tell him hed better be nice to me. Hes got to be.
The President of the United States, on a Saudi-funded stage, publicly declared the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia a subordinate who must perform deference to retain American protection. A dominance display. Performed for investors. Broadcast on C-SPAN. On Saudi money. There was no walk-back. No clarification. No suggestion that Trump misspoke.
BREAKING: TRUMP JUST LOST SAUDI ARABIA
This is a report from Canadian Dean Blundell's substack. I got turned onto him by our very own Amaryllis here at DU. He produces some really important and interesting content and I'm so glad she posted him a while back! I try to check on him daily.
If you hit the link, you'll get more info and a video clip... Zelensky stepped in and has walked out of Jeddah with 10-year defense partnerships signed with three Gulf states. Three. In one week.
I wish I could post the entire thing -- it's incredible... many layers. The dominoes are falling.
Stupid trump and his inept crew juggling diplomacy and defense, and wrecking everything.
You do NOT insult or criticize the Crown Prince. He kills people for minor offenses.
Coventina
(29,752 posts)Marie Marie
(11,318 posts)strongly encourage Mr. Bone Spurs to keep belittling Mr. Bone Saw. Trump is a tough guy - what could possible go wrong?
AllyCat
(18,854 posts)Coventina
(29,752 posts)GopherGal
(2,910 posts)Did I accidentally click on Orrex's daily thread?
struggle4progress
(126,184 posts)or he might come out neatly packed into several duffle baga
Trueblue Texan
(4,470 posts)PuraVidaDreamin
(4,619 posts)SA will not be welcoming him.
FoxNewsSucks
(11,718 posts)yellow dahlia
(5,929 posts)I think the grifter got a little too sure of himself.
wnylib
(26,042 posts)Justice matters.
(9,795 posts)When criminal malfeasance is obscenely rewarded instead of rightfully punished as it should be...

NJCher
(43,181 posts)Here's the link to my post: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221131990
If you'll note in my OP, I observe how he realizes he went too far and then tries to back peddle, saying MBS is a "regular guy."
What a dufus. Even his backpeddling is incompetent. I doubt MBS wants to be thought of as a "regular guy."
yellow dahlia
(5,929 posts)tinrobot
(12,064 posts)This will be yet another example.
enid602
(9,696 posts)I hope Kushners making a good return on the $2B he owes the sovereign fund of Saudi Arabia.. And on the additional $1B he owes to the sovereign funds of other Gulf States.
jls4561
(3,134 posts)purchased did not perform as promised.
modrepub
(4,114 posts)I thought the House Of Saud actively wanted "regime change" in Iran. Given the different sects of Islam they represent, the countries are natural belligerents.
What will truly be interesting is how the house of Saud lines up with Israel after all the dust settles from this little soiree. There was a subtle partnership between the two before this all started.
As I've said before, war is horribly expensive and utterly unpredictable. One should really think many times before one enters into it; no one goes into war thinking they'll lose or there will be unwelcome consequences Sometimes it's cheaper and wise to put up with disagreeable neighbors then trying to oust them.
NJCher
(43,181 posts)I think it's protection money and I've said so before on these threads.
We'll find out if the Saudis decide to call in a loan.
enid602
(9,696 posts)Well, the Saudís have seen what Trumps protection is worth. Weve failed our Gulf allies terribly.
travelingthrulife
(5,201 posts)Kid Berwyn
(24,432 posts)Bonesaw says Jared is in his pocket and, going by the intel he got, $2 billion was a bargain.
FakeNoose
(41,685 posts)He's better off at this point, playing up to MBS than to his own father-in-law. However there's no word yet on whether this is a break within the family. If could be that MBS is done with all Americans including Jared. Let's see what happens in the next few days.
I've always wondered how Jared was able to get so close to MBS, when he's known to be Jewish and a close friend to Netanyahu.
Kid Berwyn
(24,432 posts)For which Jared might have been compensated:
Saudi Prince MBS $2 Billion Loan to Trump Son-in-Law Jared Kushner Raises Doubts about Risk and Legitimacy
By: John Mason / Arab America Contributing Writer
Arab America, MAY 11, 2022
Excerpt
The bottom line may be that, as Kushner served ex-president Trump, he purposely established a personal relationship, perhaps a friendship, with the Saudi Crown Prince. Through that, the Prince indicated that he wanted closer links between Israel and Arab Gulf State leaders. Considering Kushners modern Orthodox Jewish background, this relationship was natural, linking rich Arab countries with the capitalist spirit of Israel. From that emerged the so-called Abraham Accords, which opened diplomatic relations between Israel and other Arab monarchies.
While this story is bigger, more nuanced, and detailed than we have time to present here, we do need to point out that, while most Arab countries avoided recognition of Israel because of its occupation of the Palestinians, under these new accords, money seemed to outweigh any interest in defending the Palestinians. This was the cynical ploy of the Trump administration, which also resulted in the sweetheart deal between the Prince and Kushner.
Snip
You scratch my back, Ill scratch yours, MBS loan to Kushner involved plenty of intrigue
In a speculative opinion in Vicky Ward Investigates, investigative reporter Ward suggests that the real reason Kushner was given the loan was linked to a foreign policy matter. She reports, the money was possibly both an IOU for sympathetic foreign policy led by Kushner during the Trump years and also a bet by MBS on a return to the White House by Kushners father-in-law, Donald Trump.
Now, it seems, Kushners personal relationship with Crown Prince MBS may have been at the root of the CIAs denial of a top-secret clearance for the ex-presidents son-in-law. Wards story goes that it was Kushner and his allies in government who blocked top-level U.S. government support of the then Crown Prince, a cousin of MBS. Former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was purportedly a long-time intelligence and counter-terrorism asset for the U.S. Bin Nayef had attempted a legal coup in 2017 in an endeavor at regime change.
Such a coup would have ousted both King Salman and then-deputy crown prince MBS. Wards sources told her, it was Kushner and his allies in the White House who got word to MBS of bin Nayefs plans, and the plot was abruptly stopped. Kushners presumed role in thwarting this coup is what drove U.S. intelligence officials to go apoplectic, thus initially preventing him from getting his top-level clearance.
The theory is, then, that the sizeable loan to Kushner by MBS was a payoff for moving bin Nayef out of the picture. Bin Nayef is under house arrest and hasnt been seen in public for three years. The ousted prince did manage to communicate that he believed MBS had arranged a partnership, presumably with Kushner, to oust him from his place as the successor to King Salman. The U.S. apparently did not act on bin Nayefs communication, allowing MBS to depose and replace him one month later.
Continues
https://www.arabamerica.com/saudi-prince-mbs-2-billion-loan-to-trump-son-in-law-jared-kushner-raises-doubts-about-risk-and-legitimacy/
Bank.
lamp_shade
(15,486 posts)rzemanfl
(31,393 posts)generalbetrayus
(1,870 posts)Norrrm
(5,073 posts)Wednesdays
(22,624 posts)It's nothing a couple trillion dollars won't fix.
erronis
(23,916 posts)And implications about cleanliness and "asses". Trump may find his ass in a sling soon - separated from the rest of his corpulent self.
Lonestarblue
(13,487 posts)Abolishinist
(2,960 posts)spanone
(141,648 posts)We won't have a single friend on earth.
Thank the fucking republicons.
Eko
(9,995 posts)democrank
(12,607 posts)the stuff used to protect a basketball court floor.
ShazzieB
(22,612 posts)I would never have been able to sit through it long enough to find that myself. Just watching him strut and preen to the first few lines of that awful song was more than enough.
liberalla
(11,102 posts)SunSeeker
(58,285 posts)My God he is a stupid asshole.
blue-wave
(5,156 posts)bulls in a china shop.
UpInArms
(55,001 posts)Canada. Europe. Now the Gulf. One by one, the relationships that constituted the American-led world order are being stress-tested and found wanting. Not because America is weak because Washington is making itself untrustworthy. Unpredictable. Humiliating to stand next to in public.
liberalla
(11,102 posts)I almost posted that! There's so many important angles in this story, or to this event that we should be aware of. An intelligent person in another country can see things that we're missing... that aren't being openly discussed in our media (controlled by 4 or 5 billionaires courting dear leader for more tax breaks, I guess?).
Anyway, thank you! I'm glad you posted that!
Amaryllis
(11,304 posts)blue-wave
(5,156 posts)over the Ukraine/Saudi defense deal:
'Putin is scared to death right now' Bill Browder and Rubio disses MBS over Saudi/Ukraine Defense Deal?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/113356098
JT45242
(4,049 posts)MBS will make him pay with the video evidence that they accumulated for years at the various Epstein locations
would be the ideal outcome!
OC375
(950 posts)I doubt they are thrilled, but they are very patient and practical. Iran also announced to expect incoming on some of their bridges shortly, so I'd imagine they would at least wait to see how the dust settles. If they were going to viscerally dump Trump in outrage over an insult, I'd imagine it would have happened 6 or 7 days ago. I doubt they will forget it, though.
liberalla
(11,102 posts)Heres the downstream damage nobody in Washington is saying out loud.
Ukraine is now a more important military partner to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf than the United States is in the one domain that actually matters right now: active threat response. America sells Saudi Arabia F-35s and Patriot batteries. Ukraine solves the problem Saudi Arabia has today Iranian drone swarms raining down on oil infrastructure while American interceptor stockpiles run dry and Lockheed Martins production line cant keep pace with the war."
Bev54
(13,435 posts)he writes, he often exaggerates and sometimes writes outright untruths and other times he gets it right. I say be cautious.
moonscape
(5,729 posts)makes sense and ring true in here to me.
Bev54
(13,435 posts)It is just a warning to confirm information from him.
moonscape
(5,729 posts)steeped in the region and your caution is sound.
He said the deal with Ukrainians started weeks ago pre humiliation and that they are unrelated. As for the humiliation? They can absorb it based on history.
Blue Owl
(59,128 posts)usonian
(25,390 posts)And it looks like Bonesaw sold his copy.
For sure, previous owners include Putin and Musk: whoever seems to dangle him like a marionette.
One of these days, someone is going to cash it in big time, or "lose" it, and his party is over.
Donald should hope and pray that Prince Bonesaw doesn't "go to Jared".
Pray? HA HA HA HA He prays only TO HIMSELF.
liberalla
(11,102 posts)" doesn't "go to Jared"..."
usonian
(25,390 posts)
muriel_volestrangler
(106,226 posts)https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221131990
and the claim about linking it to the agreement with Ukraine was made on Tuesday, but that seems to not have a reliable origin - just a Ukrainian in Canada: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221136009#post20
blue-wave
(5,156 posts)out in the days that followed confirming it all. So it is more than, how did you say? "just a Ukrainian in Canada"
Slava Ukraini!! Heroyam Slava!! Slava NaViki!!
muriel_volestrangler
(106,226 posts)Yes, he's a Ukrainian in Canada. He doesn't work in journalism, or diplomacy, government or anything, so it seems strange that a Ukrainian in Canada has the scoop on what Rubio said to Saudi Arabia, that no one else has confirmed. Repetition is not confirmation.
blue-wave
(5,156 posts)The same about you and your posts and included you being a Brit it would be OK? You're wrong.
muriel_volestrangler
(106,226 posts)I can't tell DU what is going on in the internal communications between the US and Saudi governments. I'm just a private Brit. I can link to actual sources, but the guy on Twitter didn't - he just asserted what Rubio said. He is just a private Ukrainian-Canadian. If he was American, then at least there'd be a chance he'd actually be a State Dept employee, but we'd really need some evidence for that too.
blue-wave
(5,156 posts)because he's a "Ukrainian from Canada." The fact that he's Ukrainian and/'or from Canada has nothing to do with what he's saying. You imply that Ukrainians and/or Canadians are not entitled to an opinion or commenting on current events.
It would be like me pointing out your post/posts which include info from RT (Russia Today) the Kremlin propaganda rag or from The Daily Mail, a right-wing sensationalist rag and saying the same thing about you being British. You being British has nothing to do your right to post. No one has the right to say or imply you are entitled to less of an opinion or a right to post because of your ethnicity or citizenship, even if I or others might deem those posts misguided.
muriel_volestrangler
(106,226 posts)so yes, the fact that he's a private Ukrainian-Canadian is relevant. This is not about his opinion or a "right to post"; it's about a claim he makes about what Rubio said, and for which there is no other evidence.
blue-wave
(5,156 posts)would not understand.
muriel_volestrangler
(106,226 posts)I'm talking about the tweet. What are you talking about?
ToxMarz
(2,940 posts)Everything Trump touches, dies. And you deserve it, thought you could dance with the devil and not get burned.
Response to liberalla (Original post)
Deuxcents This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to Deuxcents (Reply #39)
niyad This message was self-deleted by its author.
Deuxcents
(26,954 posts)niyad
(132,508 posts)NoSheep
(8,348 posts)I feel like I'm losing my mind
popsdenver
(2,317 posts)that this Republican CABAL is TRYING to provoke a 9/11 just like they did before.......
With what was said in Cheney's/Republican's Manifesto in the late 90's.....Project New American Century, and Louis Freh? ignoring all the flagrant warnings by his FBI, it is no doubt that Cheney/Rumsfeld opened to door and turned their heads to the probably hit on 9/11......
That single event, rallied the U.S. and the world around the WBush clowns like nothing ever before, except Pearl Harbor, which they specifically mentioned in PNAC........Why not try it again?????? Worked like a charm the first time around !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I doubt we know much about anything/everything that is going on...........back in the 90's I mentioned to one of my boys, that I truly believed that we only know a thousandth of what is going on behind the scenes...........LOL He snapped back: AND maybe we don't want to know..............
NoSheep
(8,348 posts)and it did work VERY well for them. Found the quote. It's been a while since I read it. It always shocks me.
"Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event like a new Pearl Harbor."
popsdenver
(2,317 posts)The head of the FBI....Louis Freih? was throwing away information being sent to him from his Phoenix office about all the mid easterners in Pilot schools that were reported by the owners of the school for only being interested in learning about flying the plane, when in reality 80+% of flying an airliners is the take offs and landing. The woman? in charge? down in the Phoenix? branch of the FBI sent him REPEATED urgent messages........TOTALLY IGNORED BY HIM...........
aggiesal
(10,816 posts)He's just a Mob Boss of an Organized Criminal Syndicate (R)'s,
that got his jaw clocked by another Mob Boss of an Organized Criminal Syndicate
that actually has more leverage in the ME than Mierda47.
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,525 posts)Why does anyone think Piggy JUST LOST SAUDI ARABIA?
Piggy handed Jamal Khashoggi to King Bonesaw for torture and assassination, they're molded from the same rancid shit.
Trueblue1968
(19,253 posts)Buddyzbuddy
(2,649 posts)Buddyzbuddy
(2,649 posts)Jack Valentino
(5,045 posts)Amaryllis
(11,304 posts)America doesn't even know exist. Drone warfare has changed everything and Ukraine is ahead of everyone else.
The gulf states are treating Zelenskyy with respect and dignity. And he knows how to behave with foreign leaders.
He didn't just lose Saudi Arabia. He lost the entire gulf.
liberalla
(11,102 posts)I admire him immensely, and it pi$$ed me off to no end when drumpf was so derisive and dismissive of him and of Ukraine. He was always the better man. I wish Joe had been able to help him & Ukraine more.
Did you see this one? The US Could Have Have Had Ukranian Drone Tech Seven Months Ago - For Free. Trump Chose To Mock Zelensky For Putin instead. (also from Dean Blundell)
Amaryllis
(11,304 posts)I follow several Substack writers who cover Ukraine and read about that several places. Also Meidas Touch covered Trump turning down Zelenskyy's offer.
Do you know Viktor Kravchuk? He is a Ukrainian who writes beautiful and profound posts.Totally different from Blundell.
https://freedomline.substack.com/
He Wore a Crown and Called it a Joke
https://freedomline.substack.com/p/he-wore-a-crown-and-called-it-a-joke
https://freedomline.substack.com/p/minneapolis-is-not-far-from-ukraine
Minneapolis Is Not Far From Kyiv
From those invaded by Russia to those invaded by ICE
https://viktorkravchuk.substack.com/
War, Love and Survival in Ukraine
Joinfortmill
(21,188 posts)Figarosmom
(12,039 posts)See if he disappears.
Aristus
(72,202 posts)He is not now, and will never, suffer for his demented douchebaggery. Only his death will end this nightmare.
Callie1979
(1,352 posts)drray23
(8,787 posts)There is probably a line of people who would want to get to him. Of course, we could provide him with a safe place like a supermax prison.
Cirsium
(3,944 posts)Bone spurs are no match for bone saws.
liberalla
(11,102 posts)Melon
(1,526 posts)Is this true? Why would absolutely nobody be carrying it.
muriel_volestrangler
(106,226 posts)That he said the Saudis were kissing his ass is true, and that does seem to be a good way to alienate a royal family with a high self-regard. But there's no actual "the Saudis have hit back" events talked about; it's all just speculation on how they feel.
mwmisses4289
(4,210 posts)He is already costing his wealthy ranching/farming, hospitality, and construction donors way more money than they expected. Now, not only has he pissed off our allies, he has really pissed off his wealthy big oil and mic ddonors.
Wonder how long he'll last, and what they will do to get him out and put Vance in.
BlueWavePsych
(3,349 posts)
dlk
(13,254 posts)n/t
BComplex
(9,917 posts)This whole mess is on the entire republican party, under the republican banner, including the supreme corrupt court. This entire party is NOT "American".
maliaSmith
(201 posts)I wonder if his insults will hurt Kushner sucking money out of the Middle East Royal suckers and despots? Let's hope so.
Bluetus
(2,819 posts)It is plane (pun intended) for all to see that the WWi/WWII style of weapons we still favor are losing their effectiveness. Modern warfare is going to be dominated by drones that cost a tiny fraction of the cost of systems that Saud has been buying from us.
And who are the leaders in these new technologies? Iran (oops), Turkey (OK), and Ukraine. In particular, Ukraine has vastly more real world experience that anybody else in using these technologies on the battlefield. If you haven't been following closely, Ukraine has made all kinds of daring, seemingly impossible strikes at important Russian assets. Like the US, the Russian weapons and defense are all about WWII and cold war machinery. Russia has development highly sophisticated tracking systems that can see any conventional plane anywhere in the theater.
BUT, these systems can't deal with drones that are smaller and can travel in valleys or just 5 feet over the terrain. MBS can see what these drones have done to the US in this war. Americans are not getting the real story. There have been many hard hots on American bases all over the region. There are reports that some reports of American soldiers vacating the basis to hid out in civilian areas because we can't adequately defend our bases. Saud is doing what they have to do. They can't buy these systems from Iran, so they are turning to Ukraine.
Maybe they will correct him.
NHvet
(300 posts)I guess MBS is going to CUT him out of the money stream. Donny should watch how big the SUITCASE is the Saudis carry in the next time he is speaking to them
Martin68
(27,758 posts)Clouds Passing
(7,946 posts)maxsolomon
(38,749 posts)Remember, he thinks he's hilarious so he's always joking/not joking.
Does he offend MBS with this shit? Maybe, but he'll put up with it because Trump doesn't give a fuck about anything but money. Certainly not murders.
