President Donald Trump once again tried to justify withdrawing American forces from Syria on Monday by claiming that Saudi Arabia is going to pay to rebuild the war-torn country, resulting in Twitter trashing Trump letting the Saudis buy their way out of being held accountable for murdering U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi.
Earlier in the morning, Trump attacked our allies and accused them of taking advantage of us in order to excuse his snap decision to abandon them in Syria as the fight against ISIS continues.
Trump claimed that our allies get military subsidies from the United States without giving anything in return. Of course, that tantrum was aimed at our NATO allies since Trump has yet to attack Saudi Arabia or Israel, nations that actually do receive billions of dollars of military subsidies.
And then Trump went on to claim that Saudi Arabia has allegedly agreed to fund the rebuilding of Syria, and used that a further justification of American withdrawal.
Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States. See? Isn’t it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away. Thanks to Saudi A!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
The problem is that Syria is allied with Iran, an enemy of Saudi Arabia, which is partly why the Saudis are waging war and causing a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Syria could end up the same way, which would only make tensions with Iran worse.
Furthermore, it appears this is payment for Trump looking the other way after the Saudis brutally murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.
At least that’s how most Americans see it based on the reaction on Twitter.
“Dear Murderous Dictator,
If you pay us, you can kill our journalists.
Sincerely,
Donald Trump”— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) December 24, 2018
In exchange for you letting their brutal murder of Khashoggi to be brushed under the rug?
I take life and morals over money every day of the week.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) December 24, 2018
Christ, and I thought Blood Diamonds were bad.
— Progressive Of Avantdale (@egorub) December 24, 2018
You’re getting played like a fool in Syria. First, you claim ISIS is defeated. Now, you claim they still exist & you are depending on countries we cannot trust.
Maybe you should’ve listened to the generals?
— William LeGate (@williamlegate) December 24, 2018
That’s only because you turned the other cheek when they kill journalists…
— AltMountRainier ?? (@AltMtRainier) December 24, 2018
So how many more US residents can they kidnap and dismember without consequence?
— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) December 24, 2018
See? Isn’t it nice when an ally of the USA engages in a heinous crime decried by everyone and you, the US President, covers up the whole affair to safeguard more personal interests, regardless if they imperil overall US interests in the region?
Jim Mattis was right!!
— Alianza Anticomunista Venezolana (@AAVENEZOLANA) December 24, 2018
Blood money? All it took was state sanctioned murder of a US resident. Is that what MBS offered in return for you giving him a pass? #Khashoggi
— Janice Fredericks (@JanFred1903) December 24, 2018
So Saudi Arabia, a country in direct conflict with Iran, is going to help rebuild Syria, a country allied to Iran. Are you seriously this stupid? If so it’s time for you to Resign.
— Leanna Manley (@LeannaManley) December 24, 2018
I remember when Trump supporters said Hillary was in the pocket of Saudi Arabia. Oh the irony.
— gavacho (@gavacho1223) December 24, 2018
This agreement seriously appears to be nothing more than a transactional move designed to help Trump sell his surrender in Syria to the American people, all while making the situation in the Middle East worse by trusting the Saudis will actually rebuild Syria instead of treating it like it treats Yemen.
Trump is demonstrating that he is willing to let Saudi Arabia and any other nation commit atrocities as long as they pay him in some way. That not only makes Trump complicit with the murder of Khashoggi, but it also makes him complicit with any other crimes against humanity that he allows to go unpunished in exchange for cash. This is blood money, pure and simple. And it won’t do a damn thing to make America safer.
Featured Image: Wikimedia
