Doesn’t the US pretty much know what’s going on anywhere in the world at any given time? Does this really surprise anyone?
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The U.S. also knew that Saudis were partially responsible for 9/11 and did nothing. The war wasn’t about terrorism or revenge. It was about control for oil. The U.S. government doesn’t give a crap about any of its people, so long as it’s national interests are kept safe and the status quo maintained.
There’s government in SA and there’s Islamic religious authority. Two families agreed long ago to separate spheres. The religious authority has long been frustrated with the government and are the ones who attacked us on 911. Someone needs to break the religious monopoly in SA.
Can you imagine the alternate headline of “US sends peace keeping force to Saudi Arabia to protect African migrants”? That’s a sociopolitical minefield if there ever was one. I’m sure that if the US knew, so did most everyone else, and there weren’t any other countries lining up to help. SA isn’t known for being a clandestine government, more of a “What are you gonna do about it, buy more oil?” kind of operation. The US is damned if we do, damned if we don’t. Step in and its Team America World Police, don’t do anything and we are standing by letting genocidal governments kill nations.
“Invade” or “ignore” are not the only two options, here.
I’m not sure which other diplomats knew about it - that border is fairly remote - but it’s very disappointing that the international community hasn’t said anything.
Russia invaded Ukraine and the US didn’t send troops. The largest economy, most powerful military, veto power in the UN has lots of tools available to pressure Saudi to get their shit together and be decent… if they have an interest in doing so.
Ethopian refugees are probably not worth it for the US to call in a diplomatic favor from the Saudis… or threaten some sanctions even.
Defunding of regimes like Saudi Arabia should be among the absolute top reasons to get the fuck away from fossil fuels.
It is for sure. This is actually something that everyone agrees on across the US political spectrum. I wonder if Obama stages that photo of himself bowing to the Saudis to get conservatives riled up against the Saudis. Probably not but it would have been a savvy move.
However the conservatives’ answer to all this is “drill baby drill” to increase US production and liberals’ answer to this is to move away from combustion technology completely. They don’t agree on climate change, which is core to the difference between these answers. And there we are.
Last night I was learning about how India started buying lots of Russian oil after everyone sanctioned them for Ukraine. I was shaking my head at India like “thanks a lot India - why the fuck can’t you show a little backbone and stand up for what’s right?”
And then I remembered alllll the times the US has looked the other way because some atrocity didn’t impact their geopolitical interests.
The first hand survivor accounts coning out are really awful.
Some of these people have just survived a brutal war in Ethiopia and have no idea that more horrors await them at the Saudi border until it’s too late.
Can someone provide 1 of those paywall blocker links please. I keep meaning to bookmark 1
Many thanks
For your future use:
