Biden gives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed a hearty handshake a year after an awkward fist bump moment

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By AAMER MADHANI and JOSH BOAK
Updated 12:19 PM CDT, September 9, 2023

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Saudi crown prince once vilified by President Joe Biden has been elevated from a fist bump to a hearty handshake.

Biden warmly greeted Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, after they appeared together along with several other leaders at the Group of 20 summit Saturday in New Delhi. The leaders had gathered to announce an ambitious plan to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe.

Biden smiled and shook hands with the crown prince, who is often referred to by his initials MBS, as the announcement wrapped up. This year’s G20 host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Mod i, quickly draped his own hand over their hands.

The cordial greeting was a sharp contrast to the last time Biden and the crown prince met, just over a year ago, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During that encounter, Biden awkwardly greeted the crown prince with a fist bump, a moment roundly criticized by human rights activists, who were already upset at Biden’s decision to meet with the Saudi leader.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-handshake-g20-c33e0f9bd2c6aff967a9d3d61529d9bd

[WarGamer]

1. "Now about those oil prices..."

[Think. Again.]

2. Saudi Arabia has always owned us....

..I never understood why everyone pretends that's not true.

[mountain grammy]

7. So true.

[LogicFirst]

12. And now our golf too.

[Roy Rolling]

16. Who do they own?

Those who drive gigantic, gas-guzzling SUVs driven by Karens all over the USA. And now capitalistic golf companies…whose (PGA) tournaments raise money for charities. Tax-exempt gigantic capitalistic companies.

Subsidized fossil fuels, tax-free athletic industries…you’d think American taxpayers could own Saudi Arabia, Inc. by now. Instead of just being like slum-dwellers trapped in obsolete facilities forever.

[onetexan]

18. It's not just the karens who drive SUVs mind you.

I have one & it's not gas guzzling. It gives decent mileage and we use it for road trips. When there's an all electric SUV that can match the 500-mile/tank target & there's available charging infrastructure in place & it doesn't cost more than $50k i w get one.

[tavernier]

3. Three pairs of hands there

Hard to see who is shaking what with whom.

[Lancero]

5. Considering how arms and hands normally bend, not that hard.

[usonian]

4. Looks like Joe got some intel from the folks at the CIA and DOJ.

Make him an offer he cannot refuse, Joe!

[Sucha NastyWoman]

6. Sad to see this.

[womanofthehills]

10. Talking is better than not

We all have to live on this earth together.

[onetexan]

19. THIS!!☝️

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

26. Realpolitik ...

I think the President is acknowledging the importance to world peace of not totally ceding relations with KSA AND India to Russia and/or China.

Ignoring MBS, especially with the host Modi there likely pressing the meeting, risks sending one or both strategically important, but culturally prickly, nations further into bed with our larger rivals.

It ain't pretty in terms or ethics or morals, but it may help avoid global conditions getting worse.

Or so it seems to me. I could be wrong.

[angrychair]

8. Disappointing n/t

[LudwigPastorius]

9. Our ships, bombers, and tanks don't run on Li-ion batteries.

It sucks, but a steady supply of Saudi oil is still necessary.

[former9thward]

11. No it is not.

The U.S. uses 20 million barrels of oil a day. We import 480,000 barrels a day from SA. So that is about 2 1/2 % of what we use. The U.S. can get by without SA oil.

https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/imports/companylevel/#:~:text=June%202023%20Import%20Highlights&text=The%20remaining%20top%20ten%20sources,from%20imports%20during%20May%202023.

What happened to the bone saw comments?

[Xolodno]

14. They sawed them off from their conscience.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Think. Again.]

15. That's what H2 is for, silly!

[Liberty Belle]

13. We need to cut oil use so we don't have to kiss up to the guy who had a journalist hacked to death

with a bone saw.

[Roy Rolling]

17. Unexpected?

Of course. Biden zigs when everyone expects him to zag.

It proves the most important characteristic of “my favorite (current) president”—he’s totally unpredictably genuine and statesmanlike.

To use Churchill’s phrase…he’s a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Except Joe’s one of the good guys. 😍

[yaesu]

20. Prince bone saws? nt

[bluestarone]

21. I look at it this way

It's a hard pill for Joe to swallow, but IF it helps American people, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

23. +1

[Elessar Zappa]

22. Being President often means being cordial with assholes.

It’s part of the job.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

24. +1