He did very, very well. If there were any justice or sense of fairness in the main stream media outlets of the world, Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia wold be hailed as a major success for America and the West.
His first speech abroad as President was a carefully drafted and well-delivered blend of diplomatic boiler-plate AND a good dose of tough and clear straight-talk. I know, I know, friends and others have pointed out that Trump didn't use the exact phrase "radical Islamic terror" but he came close enough, and his audience knew damn well about whom he was talking.
He did a masterful job of telling the Muslim world, well the Sunni part of it, at least, that if ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko, Hamas, etc., are not following the tenets of Islam, it is up to the Islamic world to say so, and act in accordance. I thought he also did a good job of following through on the principles laid out by Tillerson to the effect that our values are one thing, our policies might be another.
I suspect that SecState Tillerson, with his long experience working with the Kingdom, gets at least some of the credit for the stunning reception given Trump by the Saudis. They clearly went out of their way to show him and America great respect and to acknowledge that there has been a change for the positive in Washington since the end of the dismal Obama misadministration.
The President leaves Saudi Arabia with the wind at his back. I think he's going to get a great reception in Israel, and that the Israelis will appreciate what he has accomplished in his first visit to the Muslim world.
When I get home I will do a more thorough look at the visit. Now, I must ready for another sojourn onto the streets of Manhattan. My credit card has not yet maxed out . . .
"But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it." -DJT
ReplyDeleteThe ideology is the problem, not the religion. It is the ideology using religion as a human (rights) shield that gives the murderers strength. Cut the cancer from the religion and you leave the ideology naked to its enemies.
~M.
Assuming so, this would be true until some adherent a few years into the future studies the sacred texts, recognizes the calls therein, and begins to rebuild what was *intended* by Islam. It was never intended to 'coexist'. It was never intended to 'integrate' or sit side-by-side in the public sphere with other religions of any type. It's design to win spectacularly, or fail miserably.
DeleteYeah, perhaps some followers are willing to bide time until islam wins out through demographic victory. But I doubt that's in keeping with the text, and it's been my impression that these groups have little sway in islamic theology due to the paucity of backing in the quran.
It really would only take one guy a couple of years to undo trillions of secular dollars in marketing islam as a religion that will coexist peacefully with others. I don't know why we try.
I'm really tired of secularists attempting to tell religious people what their religion 'means'. THEY are the followers. THEY know what it means. And it's not "well that was the text 1400 years ago, things are different now". It's just incredibly disrespectful to attempt to tell someone, whose faith one doesn't share, how they should interpret their religion. In fact, it's so disrespectful, truly only a 'liberal' could do it.
- reader #1482
My take 1492 is that Trump, in that venue, at this time, on his first foreign trip, in the first term of his Presidency, had to lead off with his Good Cop-Moderate American political persona, including supporting imagery and language.
DeleteFrom most accounts I've read, the Sunni Islamic muckity-mucks are responding positively to his proposals, as intended, Shites remain another matter, but,interdenominational tension can be used to America's advantage. Realpolitik?!
Furthermore, bringing uncovered Western women and a Jewish spouse into the Grand Poobah's tent, certainly captured many converts for the GOP. Which I expect will make the elites and progressive demons back home seem even more shrill, if not demented, in the eyes of political "moderates"! All good for the ongoing domestic fight, to drain the swamp, and goose the economy!
All that jazz, might make even Armageddon more winnable for our side, should that scenario confront us going forward. Till then, let's hope that enough of us Yankee Imperialists, and people of the book, remember to 'Praise the Lord and pass the ammo! Thank You Lord!
On Watch~~~
"Let's Roll"
I was struck by the tone of the speech and phrasing. He knew who he was addressing and it was masterful. He spoke to their pride, their honor and their faith. He articulated Arab-culture insights that I've not heard before from a President. The worm has turned. All the right notes were hit, and also the speech was forceful in all the right ways.
ReplyDeleteAgree whole heartedly Rob. I found this line particularly moving-
DeleteWe in this room are the leaders of our peoples. They look to us for answers, and for action. And when we look back at their faces, behind every pair of eyes is a soul that yearns for justice.
Today, billions of faces are now looking at us, waiting for us to act on the great question of our time.
Maybe a tad like Reagan calling the Soviets an "evil empire".
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting, Dip, and I'm so glad to read your praise of the trip. I loved the amazing pageantry the Saudis put on, and the fact that they allowed it to be broadcast. On our side there were striking visual images as well--our beautiful, Western-dressed First Lady, and Tillerson and Ross doing the sword dance. I also realized that Jared Kushner and Ivanka by their very presence state the President's rock solid support for Israel. A question: doesn't this trip mean that the US is standing with the Sunnis, against the Shiite Iranians (and Syrians?), who are Russian clients?
ReplyDeleteIt seemed to me that Trump was telling the Saudis and their allies exactly what 90% of Americans want to tell them: "You people have to step up and deal with your violent sector now so you can advance your whole society".
ReplyDeleteThis is something former presidents have been unwilling to come out and say, and as a result the Middle Eastern countries can't quite figure out what we will support.
Hopefully he'll have a similar line for the Israelis: "stop kicking this can down the street and solve the issues now".
Our media, however, will find any excuse to denigrate Trump's efforts.
How do you solve "issues" when the other side's demand is you die (or at least abandon your country), because its god doesn't tolerate infidels? This cannot be solved by land or money. Imho, the Palestinians could have demanded any amount of money they wanted in exchange for peace. World Jewry would have paid it, and the Palestinians could have been among the richest people on earth. For peace they could have had access to Israel's hospitals, jobs, technology anything they wanted. They wanted annihilation of Israel.
DeleteHopefully he'll have a similar line for the Palestinians.
DeleteTo Anonymous at 2:221 am
DeleteI truly think the Palestinians are hopeless A peaceful, prosperous Lebanon with a worked-out power sharing agreement between Christians and Muslims, generously offered the PLO refuge after Jordan kicked them out in 1970 for being too dangerous and too much trouble. The country was soon into devastating civil war, from which it's never recovered. PLO completely embroiled in it and in my opnion played large part in starting it. Others disagree, saying they were focused on regaining Israel, not getting power in Lebanon. But in either, case they turned southern Lebanon into a war zone by using its towns and villages as weapons positions to launch rockets and attacks into Israel. And also killed a lot of Lebanese Christians. Ariel Sharon vacated the IDF from Gaza and gave it more or less autonomy. What did they do? Under Hamas leadership, turned it into a battlefield by launching rockets and attacks against Israel (and allowing other terror groups to send fighters in and out of Egypt).
The UN gives them permanent refugee status, I believe the only group to have that status. So every one of them in Gaza or West Bank wakes up each morning not in a city, town or village, but a "refugee camp." So there's also a permanent sense of grievance along with the theological duty to keep land for Allah and kill infidels.
CNN's Christianne Annanpour a few years ago did a series about Christians, Jews and Muslims. (They all have extremists and are equally intolerant.) The show on Islam ended with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This part focused on a young twenty-something man living in a "refugee camp" in West Bank, i.e., a modern city, who worked in a fully, expensively decked out recording studio making pop music. Then, in last scene of show, he takes her to the wall and points wistfully to it, talking of how there was a tree just on the other side he and his father used to sit under. Very touching, so poignant, except Annnanpour didn't ask why, with the billions of dollars/euros in aid the Palestinians had received they hadn't planted any new trees on the West Bank on their side. I.e., there are now 3 generations of Palestinans for whom victimhood is their identity, and judging by their behavior in Lebanon and Gaza they think only of fighting, I don't see how there is much hope. It would be suicidal for Israel to agree on two-state solution, although they way be forced into it.
Sense that the Big Guns are about to be employed against the Pally's! Seems they've worn out their welcome EVERYWHERE, and are NOW in desperate need of an existential ass-whuppin! Unless I'm misreading the Tea Leaves...
Delete...the "peace process" has turned into a "war process" and that the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation lies not in more painful concessions by Israel but, to the contrary, in Israel imposing its will on its enemy and crushing the Palestinian dream to eliminate the Jewish state. Washington should encourage its Israeli ally in this. >>>Ironically, losing is the best thing that could happen to the Palestinians, for it liberates from a destructive obsession and allows them to begin constructing their own polity, economy, society, and culture.
More here:
http://www.danielpipes.org/17594/palestinian-statehood-is-acceptable-eventually
On Watch~~~
"Let's Roll"
He told the Saudis to defend themselves and made them buy American weapons to do it. He told them to clean up their theology and their mosques. He made it clear America would defend itself. And he isolated Iran, at least in the Muslim world. Imho, perfectly done. Question: is he going to do anything about Saudi-financed Wahabbi imams in the West?
ReplyDeleteExporting Wahabbi Islam is a critical issue. I hope just gutting the EPA and lowering the price of oil will reduce Saudi influence. Lower Oil revenues, with increased security requirements, and an out of control welfare state should rein them in.
Delete"Question: is he going to do anything about Saudi-financed Wahabbi imams in the West?"
DeleteI'd bet on it, and wouldn't be surprised to learn that The Donald, even wrote a verbatim script for the Shieks of Arabee to preach to the Wahabbi-USA choir.
OW~~~
A President who speaks from a position of strength and moral clarity. No bowing from this one.
ReplyDeleteCONCUR!
DeleteOW~~~
How long do you think your credit card can survive two women in Manhattan? ;)
ReplyDeleteI live in fear of the bill
DeleteHe isolated Russias clients, Iran/Syria, loud and clear. They remain in the cold, positions cemented.Did he discuss this speech with Lavrov when he visited DC just recently ? Will Russia now sell lots and lots of weapons to this side ? Is that the deal ?
ReplyDeleteSwL
..."Will Russia now sell lots and lots of weapons to this [Iran/Syria] side?"
DeleteExpect, SwL, that the Rus will not be selling 'State of the Art' stuff to them, more likely from the obsolete bin, serial numbers removed! Win Win for our side, the best kind of deal!
On Watch~~~
"Let's Roll"
Fine words butter no parsnips.
ReplyDelete... "no parsnips."
DeleteOf course not dearest, they're out of season, better check with the BBC. Do agree tho, "Fine words", and well spoken too! 3 Cheers for The Donald of Arabia!
OW~~~
"Let's Roll"
paraphrasing:
ReplyDelete"We're not going to tell you how to run your lives, or what your religion means."
"Your children have the right to grow up in peace."
I'm afraid when it comes to Islam, those two are contradictory.
But I get what he's saying... each nation is responsible for its behavior and the behavior of its people... for too long, Islamic terrorism has been justified by the left via guilt-of-prosperity arguments... and that's just crap. Only kindergarteners get to blame other people for their own bad behavior.
Speaking of kindergarten, I get to go spend potentially my day at a walk-in passport office on behalf of my little one who's yet to have the pleasure of receiving services from the department of state! Will be thinking of all-y'all.. heh
- reader #1482
..."I get to go spend potentially my day at a walk-in passport office on behalf of my little one"...
DeleteKeep'em on a short leash! ;)
OW~~`
Looks good but this week's issue is Erdogan, whose diplo-immune thugs beat up lawful protesters against his policies outside his Turkish ambassador's residence, apparently at his command.
ReplyDeleteAnyone notice that AF1 flew directly from SA to Israel? No side trip to "cleanse" the flight.
ReplyDeleteI loved your language: "The President leaves Saudi Arabia with the wind at his back." I sent it off to the White House, citing the source, of course.
ReplyDelete