Why Saudi Arabia has lost faith in the US

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Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad Hariri was scathing on a recent visit to Washington about the administration's assertion that the money from the sanctions relief would go to "building bridges and roads".

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"I want to know how much of this money is going to Hezbollah," said Mr Hariri, whose political camp is staunchly opposed to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militant group backed by Iran, which has been fighting in Syria to help prop up President Bashar al-Assad.

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A senior Saudi Arabian official told me they were deeply concerned about the cash injection Iran would get after a nuclear deal.

When I asked him whether they were planning to make a move on Syria before a deal is reached, his response was a surprisingly forceful "Yes".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32778185

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1. Iran ready to help Iraq confront Islamic State: senior Tehran official

A senior Iranian official said on Monday his country was ready to help confront Islamic State militants who have seized the Iraqi city of Ramadi, and that he was certain the city would be "liberated" from their grip.

Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitaries were preparing on Monday to deploy en masse to the western province of Anbar after Islamic State militants overran Ramadi, the provincial capital, in their biggest victory since last summer.

"If the Iraqi government officially asks the Islamic Republic of Iran ... to carry out any step that helps Iraq to confront (them)... then the Islamic Republic of Iran will meet this call," Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, told Reuters Television.

"I firmly believe that eventually Ramadi, like Tikrit, will be liberated from the grip of extremist terrorists," he said. U.S. officials say they believe Iran, one of Iraq's main allies, has carried out air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/18/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-iran-idUSKBN0O314320150518

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2. IS-held Ramadi: Shia militias gather near Iraqi city

Shia militias are assembling east of the Iraqi city of Ramadi to prepare for a counter-attack against Islamic State militants who captured it on Sunday.

Iraqi state TV described tanks and other military vehicles entering al-Habbaniyah military camp. IS fighters are reportedly moving towards the base.

The Iraqi government called for help from the Iran-backed militias after the military was routed and fled.

About 500 people died in the city - only 70 miles (112km) west of Baghdad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32777138

[Jefferson23]

3. Maybe the Saudi rulers will move to Mars...I would like that. n/t

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4. War is coming.

Well, it's already here, really, but it's going to get worse, everybody is out to teach somebody else a lesson.

[Jefferson23]

5. You're right, more will die and left in shambles if they are lucky enough to survive. n/t

[KoKo]

6. Thanks for the links. Jay Solomon. Reporter, WSJ was alluding to this today

on Sirrius/XM POTUS show..I don't have subscription to WSJ to give enough snip of his article there to post. So, I will have to paraphrase what I heard:

He's heading to Jordan tomorrow because he thinks something is brewing there having to do with Saudi/Syria/Iran.

He went into great detail about Saudi's fear that the Iran Agreement, lifting Sanctions, will allow Iran to spend money arming those allies they have supported in the past. He said Israel is fearful of this and while they probably can't get agreement from U.S. (due to the problems between Bibi and Obama) to bomb Iran while they have a chance...that their effort might go into bombing Hezbollah because Israel's "military equipment" is much more advanced than the last time they tangled with Lebanon and they feel they would be successful.

He also went into the Sochi Meeting a bit and said that Putin's worried about the Chechian rebels that are now fighting with ISIS and the other Rebel Forces who are remaking the ME. He actually claimed that the jet brought down with the pilot shown charred was done by a Chechnian General and that the Opposition Forces in MENA have many Chechians in Command Positions who have great influence. Russia, he feels, is very interested in stopping any more power grabbing by the Chechians given Russia's history with them in the past.

Soloman's biggest concern was violence flaring up in Jordan and if/when Israel would take Iran via Hezbollah into their own hands.

I don't know the history of Solomon's reporting for WSJ...but, it was interesting and kind of goes along with the BBC article you posted.

And, as I said, I'm paraphrasing. The article in WSJ is probably a far better read if you have access by subscription.

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7. I'm worried Iran & the Saudis will get into it with each other.

Since I don't expect Iran will let Assad fall now, nor will Russia, and that will drag Jordan and the Gulf oil satrapies in, and China relies quite a bit on Iran these days, and the Saudis already have this theatrical war going on in Yemen.

And Shiia Iraq will take Iran's side. Who knows what ISIS and the Kurds will do? Or Turkey? Turkey is NATO and Turkey is 'spose to part of this anti-Assad coalition.

I think Bibi is more likely to attack Lebanon, as you say, but I heard all that optimistic blather last time too, it will be worse, not better for Israel this time.

And then there is the question what Pakistan will do, and India; and Uncle Sugar, well we may just stand back.

Putin has been consistent in framing it as a jihadi problem, I think the debacle in Chenya/Ingushetia/Dagestan when he first came to power taught him a lesson he's not forgotten.

Edit: and somewhere in the stuff I posted was a more of less explicit intent to drag us into it against Iran.

Edit: and this http://www.democraticunderground.com/11339515 , Jordan has jihadi problems too.

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8. A New Turkish-Saudi Thaw is Helping Rebels in Syria and Worrying Washington

ISTANBUL — New alliances on the battlefield and in diplomatic circles between Turkey and Saudi Arabia have managed to drastically improve the fortunes of Syrian rebel fighters struggling to make significant gains against the armies of President Bashar al-Assad.

Armed groups that were once at violent odds have banded together following an unexpected Turkish-Saudi alliance since the January death of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, and the groups are making significant gains against Assad’s forces, such as the recent takeover of the northern city of Idlib.

A mutual frustration among regional leaders with perceived American indecision and inattention to Syria has drawn Turkey and Saudi Arabia closer. It’s a development that is exactly what the Obama administration wanted to see – regional actors banding together to fight their own wars – but one that could backfire if it causes further animosity toward the U.S. for refusing to do more to help stop the conflict.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia, ideological adversaries that spent decades jockeying for influence in the Islamic world, are now working together to realize their common vision for a Syria without Assad. But in recent years, the two regional powers were divided over related issues, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkey has been a champion of the pan-Arab Islamist group while Saudi Arabia considered it a terrorist group. And the two sides couldn’t be more different politically: Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy while Turkey was founded and remains (for now) a secular republic. So far this year, it appears the powers have put aside their differences to achieve a common goal.

http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/05/new-turkish-saudi-thaw-helping-rebels-syria-and-worrying-washington/113476/

[KoKo]

9. Always beware of Turkey, it seems....

One never knows which side they're on...except for themselves in their "strategic location." I guess you could say..."They do what they Gotta Do" and let the chips fall where they may? The whole place is such a mess ....who knows?