Pentagon moves forward with Saudi defense mission

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Pentagon moves forward with Saudi defense mission

By Missy Ryan
11/27/2019, 12:24:30 p.m.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The United States is negotiating cost-sharing terms with Saudi Arabia for an expanding military mission aimed at ensuring the kingdom is protected from attacks on critical oil infrastructure, officials said.

The Pentagon’s deployment of new radar, air defense and other military assets to the Gulf nation was discussed during talks Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held with Saudi officials this week.

Milley, in his first visit to this key U.S. ally since becoming President Trump’s chief military adviser this fall, met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other leaders during his visit.

Trump authorized a boost to the relatively light U.S. footprint in Saudi Arabia, from an advisory mission that stood around 800 to a force of about 3,000, following the Sept. 14 assault on Saudi oil facilities, which Saudi and U.S. officials said was launched by Iran in an major escalation of regional tensions.

The troops will operate additional assets designed to help the Saudi military guard against Iranian attacks, including four Patriot batteries, a terminal high altitude area defense system, or THAAD air defense system, and two squadrons of fighter jets. Financial responsibility for the deployment has taken on unusual visibility after Trump, who has criticized allies for not contributing enough to shared defense, promised the oil-rich kingdom would pay “100 percent of the cost.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/pentagon-moves-forward-with-saudi-defense-mission/2019/11/27/e1a36444-112a-11ea-b0fc-62cc38411ebb_story.html

[Faux pas]

1. Too ne

that is very bad news

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. So now we know what the chosen one blathering is all about

Trump pandering to the evangelicals has increased...they believe HE is going to usher in Armageddon/Rapture. Huge fight in the Middle East will appeal to them.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. Not no but HELL NO!!!

1. Saudi Arabia is number 3 in military spending on the planet, behind the US and China. In fact, considering their population compared to China and the US, they are NUMBER ONE in military spending per capita. They have over 250K active duty military, with less than 20K currently deployed. Why is it our job to help them?

2. The US is 85 to 90% energy independent. Of that 10 to 15% of fossil fuels we import, the bulk of it comes from Canada and Mexico. Only 20% of our oil imports comes from the entire Middle East. So, at best (or worst) we get 2 to 3% of our oil from Saudi Arabia. They could totally shut down and we would hardly feel it.

3. While the SA national oil company, Aramco, started as a partnership with American oil companies in the 30s, it has been wholly owned by the Saudi royal family for almost 50 years. The same family with a long history of human rights abuses, including the murder and dismemberment of reporter Jamal Khashoggi. Why is it our job to help these thugs?

4. 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists were Saudi Arabian citizens. We're supposed to provide our troops and spill our blood to protect a country that brought us to our knees?

NOT NO, BUT HELL NO!

[Karadeniz]

6. Ah, yes! Join the army and protect Saudi oil. Let the immoral Saudis pay for all their oil guards.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. This belongs in General Discussion

Everyone needs to know about this.