Lindsey Graham: US ties with Saudi Arabia can't move forward until MBS 'dealt with'

Brendan Cole
Newsweek
Sat, 19 Jan 2019 22:53 UTC

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has made a veiled criticism of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

After he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Graham said in Ankara on Saturday that the U.S. Congress will reintroduce sanctions against those implicated in the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Riyadh says the crown prince did not know about the killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, claims that have been cast into doubt by Riyadh's contradictory explanations.

The CIA concluded in November that the prince ordered the journalist's assassination, which Riyadh denies.

Although President Donald Trump has been reluctant to criticize the prince, Graham said on Saturday: "The relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia cannot move forward until Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is dealt with," without specifying what this meant, Reuters reported.

Washington sanctioned 17 Saudi officials in November for their alleged role in the Khashoggi killing. Ties have also been strained by the Senate's vote to push for ending military support for the Saudi-led coalition in the war in Yemen.

Graham, who is on the Senate's Armed Services Committee, also said he hoped Trump would slow the U.S. withdrawal from Syria until the Islamic State militant group (Isis) is destroyed.

On Wednesday, Graham expressed concern that Trump's statements about Syria have emboldened Isis. "My concern, by the statements made by President Trump, is that you set in motion enthusiasm by the enemy we're fighting.

"You make people we're trying to help wonder about us. And as they get bolder, the people we're trying to help are going to get more uncertain. I saw this in Iraq. And I'm now seeing it in Syria," he said, according to CNN.

Graham also said in Ankara that by arming the YPG group in Syria, Washington had "created a nightmare for Turkey."

He said that Washington would work with Turkey to move Kurdish YPG elements away from the country.

Comment: Graham is a hawk and a voice for the Deep State. In no way shape or form is his stance toward MBS coming from a place of decency. He's been plenty happy to support arms sales to Saudi Arabia and to protect the barbarous Kingdom in the past. You can bet there is a lot going on behind the scenes on this issue and the US wants something that Saudi Arabia has been reluctant to agree too. Both sides have dirt on the other, and this is rhetoric is just a game of strategies.

Reader Comments

graeme15b · 2019-01-19T23:29:20Z

Well, there are many domestic issues in Saudia Arabia that puts the elites against MBS. As far as the US is concerned, i reckon that MBS is pivoting slowly towards China and Russia. The Saudis are willing to accept yuan payments for oil. MBS, and his backers see how things are shaping up on the Eurasian landmass, and are adapting policy to suit, in increments.

Joyly · 2019-01-19T23:49:08Z

Yes the US want the Saudis to commit to the weapons sales that have been discussed, but not finalized. The Saudis said "up yours" when they opened discussions with Russia about their defense systems. The US is trying to bring them back into line (buy US and only US) and in return they will forget about the little "accident" that occurred to Khashoggi. Just my opinion.

pounamuknight · 2019-01-20T00:05:44Z

Graham is a hawk and a voice for the Deep State.

Ie., an asset. A pawn

And from now on, I'm not calling it "the Deep State," because the pricks within its power would love that term

It's a Criminal State. The Criminal State.

sottreader · 2019-01-20T03:21:13Z

pounamuknight That would be confusing.

The clearly visible non-"deep state" part of the gov't, i.e., Congress, Judiciary, & Executive and including all of the departments and agencies, is also most definitely a criminal enterprise.

Thus, when you refer to the "Criminal State", people are likely to not know to which of the two criminal entities you are referring.

Joan · 2019-01-20T04:46:31Z

I think most of us are familiar with the Godfather trilogy, in the end they entered into politics, they became legit, using corruption and blackmail to get what they wanted.

Is the "Deep State" any different, not really IMO it continues to be a protection racket, the same tactics only on a global scale, now it involves prominent figures on the world chessboard.

The same mafia gangland wars for territory still apply, and Graham, and his ilk are no different than the old time soldiers of the mafia organization.

The only difference, they have been scrubbed clean by an ideology. Makes them more respectable that way.