The U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Spring
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-06-08/us-saudi-arabia-and-arab-spring
The Arab Spring has tested the longtime bond between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. The country’s wealth and oil supplies have made it a pillar in the Arab world for decades. But its role has changed as pro-democracy demonstrations have swept the region. U.S. support for the Arab uprisings has put the two countries at cross purposes. And the alliance between the two nations complicates U.S. dealings with other countries in the region-- from Egypt to Bahrain to Yemen. A look at the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and how its relationship influences the region.
Guests
Robin Wright
journalist, foreign policy analyst at the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and editor of "The Iran Primer."
Christopher Boucek
is an associate in the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; his research focuses on regional security challenges.
Ali al-Ahmed
director of the Gulf Institute
Aaron David Miller
a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center and former adviser to Republican and Democratic secretaries of state; author of the forthcoming book "Can America Have Another Great President?"
Comments
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Would your guests please discuss the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in the "Arab Spring"?
Also, what about the formation of a Nazi Party in Egypt? Is there not a rise in anti-semitism in the whole region? Isn't the Muslim Brotherhood anti-semitic?
Would your guests please discuss the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in the "Arab Spring"?
Also, what about the formation of a Nazi Party in Egypt? Is there not a rise in anti-semitism in the whole region? Isn't the Muslim Brotherhood anti-semitic?
Know what? I don't believe the scuttle-butt about U.S. officials begging the Saudis and Emirates to raise production so that gas prices can ease a little. I have my reasons.
1. These "officials" are beholden to big oil and financial speculators, and the higher the price the higher their percentage. Fifty percent of a dollar is fifty-cent. Fifty percent of a Hamilton is 5 bucks.
2. Saudi Arabia is past peak in production and is inflating its reserve capacity. They have become more secretive in this over time. If the duck that lays the golden eggs is sick then where does their source of power and authority originate, not in shrine tourism.
3. Gas prices are a good way to humble and civilize the U.S. population which has been used to better times. It is a step toward global labor leveling, and I do mean leveling, as in urban renewal. It's really hilarious that $5 gas becomes a proud token of conspicuous waste in a nation still glorifying muscle cars.
4. Why would a nation insufficient in food, and with a rapidly growing young idle population, have to be begged for anything? And especially under a worldwide grain famine causing the price of bread to double and triple in six months. Combine hunger, Internetworking and WikiLeaks, and what have you got?
5. The potentates whom you are begging might not be around that much longer. Are you picking out their new digs in El Dorado above Santa Fe? How many muscle cars will they require?
Bo: I assume you are an expert in racist identity politics.
Now I wonder, how could an ethnic group you consider so inferior pose such a great threat? I'm more concerned about American and Canadian skinheads, and White Nazis, and Klan, and armed Christian cultists than about a few old scribes in Egypt. In fact, the Muslim brotherhood has been funded by the U.S. and Israel as a means of sowing instability, pretty much like the mujahideen, pretty much like FBI intrigues with the domestic Identity movement. Fascists always keep some boogeymen in the pantry in case unruley guests drop by.
We'll have to wait and see what the hungry and unemployed North African and Middle Eastern protestors get. Will it be our grain, or our bombs? I will paraphrase Gandhi, "When you can't afford groceries you don't care whether it is a bearded royal potentate starving you or a commercially minded American democrat."
In Ron Susskinds book "The Price of Loyalty" about former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neils experience during 43"s first administration. O'neil describes that there was a great deal of static and displeasure when he started to investigate Saudi money tied to the 9/11 investigation. He was soon after asked to go. Can you discuss this effort to investigate Saudi money and 9/11?
Also why do we hear Obama administration officials describe US support or lack of support for the peoples revolutions in these countries as one size does not fit all" As if the US if fitting these nations with a pair of shoes. I think this is so dismissive of real human rights abuses.
It was fascinating to watch the MSM's coverage of the ARab Spring. They covered protest in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iran a little bit of coverage of the protest in Bahrain and Saudi Arabie. But skipped right over the decades long Palestiniian protest going on at the same time of the protest in these other countries. This skipping over of Palestinian protest took place on CNN, Fox news, MSNBC, Cspans Washington Journal etc. Palestinian protest are still off limits to the US MSM. Hate to say it Diane even on your show.
Please please do not pretend or attempt to spin that there is fair coverage of Palestinian protest. That would be a lie
When oh when wlll this change?
Hi Diane,
I am a former State Department colleague of Aaron Miller. I would be interested in your panel's comments on the statement made last week by Saudi Prince Al-Waheed bin Talal in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. He admitted that the Saudis want to keep oil at around $80 a barrel in order to undermine the relative economic viability of alternative technologies.
Thank you,
Patricia McArdle
ps My novel Farishta, which was inspired by the year I spent in Northern Afghanistan with the British Army was released last week. You can check out my facebook page Farishta novel. I am keeping my fingers crossed that some day I'll be able to talk with you about the issues my novel addresses.
Diane when are you and your producers going to do a show on the newly released National INtelligence Estimate on Iran? NO EVIDENCE THAT IRAN IS DEVELOPING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Please stop perpetrating this myth. Read the latest NIE report for heavens sake. And please stop allowing guest to repeat unsubstantiated claims about Iran on your program Seymour Hersh has written a recent article in the New Yorker "Iran and the Bomb" Please have him on as well as former Bush administration official and former CIA middle east analyst Flynt Leverett on your program to discuss Iran. You have had far too many Iraqi warmongers on your program to repeat unsubstantiated claims about Iran.
Why do we tolerate the Saidi's? We invaded Iraq for no particular good reason? And why is NATO and the US not attacking Syria?
I am confused?????
Reporters for Democracy Now did a recent piece called "Trapped in Gaza: Rafah Crossing Closed to Palestinians Soon After Egyptian Pledge to Reopen It on the Rafah crossing not really being opened." Palestinians stuck at the crossing are calling Egypts claims that they were going to open this crossing "A broken promise"
Claiming that Israel and the US are pressuring Egypt not to open the crossing. Can your guest discuss this.
I forgot to provide my location. I am in Arlington, Virginia.
Thanks,
Patricia McArdle
How are preparations for elections in Egypt going? How concerned is Israel about El Baradei being elected? In his role as head of the IAEA he pushed hard for Israel to sign the NPT. He stated that the illegal settlements and parts of the wall used to confiscate more internationally recognized Palestinian land as a serious impediment to a sustainable peace. Israel does not like El Baradei. Can you discuss this
How many US air force bases are still in Saudi Arabia? Why did the US Army move bases out of Saudi Arabia to Qatar? Can you explain?
The Diane Rehm show has become a male dominated program. Not the guest list but the callers the screener or emails the producers allow through. I would put money the ratio of male to female callers who are allowed through are at least 5 to 1. Really maybe a much more lop sided ratio.
As if only men have opinions or questions about foreign policy. Really sad and telling
Oh my goodness Diane you just allowed Robin Wright to infer that Iran has a nuclear weapons program. Diane did not even attempt to add anything about the newly released NIE on Iran. Nothing fact based. Diane has allowed guest to repeat and infer unsubstantiated claims about Iran. More of the same in the run up to the invasion of Iraq. This has been going on on the Diane Rehm show for 8 years. As well as on other MSM outlets. One would have assumed the host of these shows would have learned to at least challenge these unproven and endlessly repeated claims. Obviously not.
Rachel Maddow and NPR's Terri Gross not only allow guest to repeat these unsubstantiated claims. Both of these host repeat the claims themselves
Dangerous and pathetic
Kathleen: One advantage of call screening is that you can harvest the type of opinions and inquiries you "need" to reinforce a preconceived agenda. Maybe male callers are providing something female callers do not. And if male "On-airs" outnumber women listeners so profoundly, you might also think it possible that a certain variety of male opinion is being sought. Why, you might even think these calls are planned, scheduled or invited. Could they be "organized"?
Bill Moyers blog used to censor on the grounds that posts to the Talkback blog were from activist organizations. Wow, talk about a requirement for rugged individualism of the mind!
Women can blog, and email and Tweet can't they? I find Diane and crew censor me less than Truthdig, Alternet and some other major commentaries. On Point is notorious for it's steering and excluding censorship on the show commentary. They are wound tighter in Boston, I suppose. Or maybe it's Ashbrook's testosterone high.
Kathleen: WAMU, Diane's home PBS hub, has a social network site called "The Conversation @ WAMU. I wish you'd join and comment about the Diane Rehm Show. I will watch for you and back you up. (Too much organizing?) Or email me Redlair6@yahoo.com
oil. Investments
Thanks for the invite
groom Xiao Zhou generously explains why the wedding in the solid waste transfer station : Things are her worry about the wedding here, I also feel a little wronged her, but I'll will try to earn some money for my wife .
This is a normal, special wedding - because not buy a house in Hangzhou ,borse chanel, parents are sanitation workers in waste transfer station where the couple held a wedding, new home are safe in the waste transfer station Above . This simple and lively wedding couple attracted a lot of people watching around .
WASHINGTON few days, along Yan'an Road,borse gucci, Hangzhou,chanel, people are talking about a wedding to do in the waste transfer station . June 1 , a pair of new street in Yan'an solid waste transfer station in an alley at a wedding. Lianyungang girl wearing a red dress Ding , stepping on her brother's new shoes set foot on the wedding car, wedding car stood next to some cakes , a symbol of the couple in the future sweet, rise higher and higher . After the wedding car was heading for her new home Ding .
marriage room on top of security in the solid waste transfer station - downstairs is the place to dispose of refuse , garbage collected near the time being piled up in here waiting to be processed . Upstairs was divided into small rooms , for sanitation workers live, and Xiao Ding Xiao Zhou is one of a new home .
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