Bernie Sanders: The US "Can't Be BLACKMAILED" by Saudi Arabia

[Segami]

The Saudi Arabian government has threatened to sell of hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets should Congress pass a bi-partisan bill led by US Senator Chuck Schumer that could hold the kingdom responsible for any role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, The New York Times reported Friday. Of the 22 co-sponsors of the measure, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, 12 are Republicans and 10 are Democrats. The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill's passage and the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon. The administration, which argues the legislation will put Americans at legal risk overseas, has been lobbying so intently against the bill that some lawmakers and families of September 11 victims are infuriated. In their view, the Obama administration has consistently sided with the kingdom and has thwarted their efforts to learn what they believe to be the truth about the role some Saudi officials have played in the terror plot.

"It's stunning to think that our government would back the Saudis over its own citizens," said Mindy Kleinberg, whose husband died in the World Trade Center on September 11.

The U.S. needs to take a harder stance against Saudi Arabia, Senator Bernie Sanders said on Sunday in an appearance on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos,” saying parts of the Saudi ruling family have funded the “extremely right-wing fundamentalist ideology” of Wahhabism in schools around the world. “Saudi Arabia is playing a very dangerous role in fomenting fundamentalism all over the world.” Asked about reports that Saudi Arabia would sell American assets if Congress approves a bill allowing victims of 9/11 attacks to sue the Saudi government, Sanders said the The ”

Sanders said, "I have said throughout this campaign we are not taking a hard enough look at Saudi Arabia and it's not only the people who came from Saudi Arabia and participated in 9/11. The evidence is pretty clear. Saudi Arabia is one of the most powerful and wealthiest families of the world. That's why they can threaten to withdraw hundreds of billions of dollars from our economy. The evidence is quite clear that sections of that very large royal family have funded a Wahhabism; this extremely right-wing fundamentalist ideology, which is what ISIS is about, which is what Al Qaeda's about. There are schools all over this world that are -- where children are being educated in this anti- -- this horrific fundamentalist ideology."

~snip~

Earlier in the ABC show, Hillary Clinton had this exchange about the Schumer legislation:

CLINTON: I don't really know about that, George, I'd have to look into it. Obviously, we've got to make anyone who participates in or supports terrorism pay a price, and we also have to be aware of any consequences that might affect Americans, either military or civilian or our nation. So I'm not...

STEPHANOPOULOS: You don't know about this issue? It's been around for several years.

CLINTON: Well, I know there's been an issue about it for quite some time, I don't know about the specific legislation that you're referring to. But obviously, I'll look into it.

STEPHANOPOULOS: OK. So -- but you're not prepared to say now whether you support it or oppose it?

CLINTON: I can't, I haven't studied it. Unlike some people -- I do try to learn what's at the core of any question before I offer an opinion, because you know it's not enough to say what's wrong, I think you've got a responsibility to say how you're going to fix it.

cont'

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/04/17/bernie-sanders-us-cant-be-blackmailed-saudi-arabia

[Segami]

1. The U.S. “CAN’T BE BLACKMAILED” By Saudi Arabia…..Bernie Sanders

[Buzz Clik]

2. News Flash: The ONLY way to break away from Saudi Arabia is complete independence from their oil

Good luck getting there when you're willing to shut down the most successful fossil fuel industry in the history of the US.

Jesus Christ, Sanders is naive.

[Segami]

3. Hillary Clinton....'I'll Look into it' or maybe tell them to just 'Cut it out'.....lol!

The queen is too busy eating crumpets......

[Buzz Clik]

4. Yeah, bad answer. But Sanders is writing checks he can't cash. He's so out there it's frightening.

[Segami]

5. No answer yet from Hillary.....I guess most of her polling staff is off for the weekend.....lol!

[rhett o rick]

8. I see how this can be confusing to you. Sanders actually gives his opinion.

Clinton on the other hand blathers rhetoric.

I don't really know about that, George, I'd have to look into it.

That's code for my team hasn't written me some good rhetoric yet. She should be aware of this legislation.

Obviously, we've got to make anyone who participates in or supports terrorism pay a price,

Well this sounds good so far. But, but, but

" and we also have to be aware of any consequences that might affect Americans, either military or civilian or our nation."

Which negates the first sentence and she actually says nothing.

[Buzz Clik]

12. Read the thread. I'm not confused.

[Schema Thing]

7. Sanders hasn't said he'd "shut down" the US oil industry. Hell, it's being "shut down" by...

Saudi Arabia as we speak.

[Buzz Clik]

10. We don't have enough oil to be independent. We need natural gas, and we need it from fracking.

"No fracking anywhere."

He has no sword to fight the Saudis without fracking. Period.

[azurnoir]

14. so exactly how much oil are we getting from the Saudi's?

[Buzz Clik]

16. Look it up.

[azurnoir]

17. why can you not back up your own rhetoric?

[Buzz Clik]

18. I don't play fetch. You want to know, look it up.

I'm done here.

[azurnoir]

19. I'm not asking you to play fetch I'm asking you to back up your own post with facts

Buzz Clik (36,260 posts)
10. We don't have enough oil to be independent. We need natural gas, and we need it from fracking.

"No fracking anywhere."

He has no sword to fight the Saudis without fracking. Period.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1763516

[Segami]

20. You were done on your first post...

[Buzz Clik]

21. I'm done with you little friend, but I destroyed your arguments -- you're done, not me.

Shit happens.

[Segami]

23. lol.....stay off the high-speed weathervane,...its making you perpetually dizzy...

......."destroyed your argument"??.....ROFL!!!

[Schema Thing]

26. The answer to Buzz Clik's silliness is - we get oil on the world market, in which

Saudi Arabia as well as the USA participates. We are now a net exporter, but of course we buy certain types as well.... from the market.

[PufPuf23]

33. Oil import statistics and oil imports from Saudi Arabia

Oil imports by the month to USA

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_m.htm

Oil Imports by Month from Saudi Arabia

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MTTIMUSSA1&f=M

------------

Less than 12% of oil imports to USA come from Saudi Arabia (note this is imports only and does not included domestic production used domestically)

Less than 1/6 of oil imports to USA come from the Persian Gulf.

However, USA based (and NATO-based) trans-national oil corporations produce and market substantial amounts of Saudi and Persian Gulf oil by an order of magnitude over what we actually use, I know this and if interested anyone can do the research in minutes.

[JackRiddler]

9. Even without fracking US not dependent on Saudi Arabia.

You're thinking of Europe.

And dependence on fossil fuels can end in 10 years with the equivalent of a war effort. For fuck's sake, famously Sunny Germany now has days when the whole grid is powered off wind and solar.

[Buzz Clik]

11. You're wrong. Dead wrong. Look at the data.

We were importing 50% of our petroleum before the fracking boom.

Where do you get this misinformation?

[PufPuf23]

34. Look at my post #33. You are grossly wrong. eom

[TheBlackAdder]

42. Man, what a spate of moronic posts you've produced. Fracking is now for LNG shipment offshore!

.


I love these idiots who post things like they know everything.

People like that, generally are named IKE (I KNOW EVERYTHING)



It's obvious you've buried your head up somewhere to pay attention to the direction of the energy industry, from off-shore coal shipping, to the dozen LNG ports built or under construction to ship our fracked NG to foreign markets. Fracking is not for domestic consumption anymore, it's future plans are to ship it offshore, while our watersheds get destroyed.


These morons also confuse NG with oil products. Granted, each produce energy, but do so in different forms. All of which would require retrofit to change from one form to another.


Now, you've gone to bed with the Saudis, since they are the evil we must live with. I remember when the US energy market was supposed to be for the future, when the foreign markets ran out or held oil back from us, as part of the National Reserve mindset. But really that was a bullshit tactic, since the energy industry knew exactly how and where to manipulate the markets to keep them on top. So you want to stay in Saudi Arabia, sucking up to the Saudis. Yet, I bet you also bitched about Qaddafi, who also sold oil on the open market, when that guy killed fewer Americans.


I just have one question, How much do you charge people to cross your footbridge?



.

[Buzz Clik]

43. Did you bother to read one fucking word I posted?

Holy shit, you are so far off of everything I said.

[TheBlackAdder]

44. Oh, I do fead every "fucking word" of shit produced. Unfortunately, I can synthesize and comprehend.

.



I asked you about your bridge tolls, because you are extremely trollish, and you seem to take pride in it.



.

[Buzz Clik]

45. "I can synthesize and comprehend." Not a single word.

But, nice try.

[TheBlackAdder]

46. I'm not feeding your ego. You know who and what you are.

[JackRiddler]

6. Clinton doesn't know? Bullshit.

In a fair news environment this would be given the same treatment that Sanders' Daily News interview got and is still getting, except with the key difference of course that in Sanders did know what he was talking about and it was the Daily News interviewers who were confused.

But you know what? HRC is not stupid and she was Secretary of State. Of course she knows all about this issue. So here we do not see her being astonishingly ignorant of something that was central to her portfolio as SoS. We do see her surprised by the question, and not ready with a smoother prevarication. So she has to resort to the blatant lie of "I don't know."

[Segami]

13. I'm not sure if she continues to receive intel briefings as a former SoS...but Bill definitely does.

so not knowing is a bullish*t cop out.

[beedle]

15. Oh Jesus

So Clinton can't answer a question about legislation that's been around for years?

Now, since Sanders was asked about a days old court ruling whose written decision had not even been released yet, and when he said he hadn't had a chance to study it yet, was ridiculed as 'unprepared' ... I assume this Hillary complete and total 'preparedness fuck up' will be all over the MSM 24/7 all next week ... right?

[Jefferson23]

22. This conversation is long overdue. +10 for Bernie. -1 for Clinton and her evasive BULLSHIT. n/t

[840high]

30. and +10 for you

[Jefferson23]

37. Thank you.

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Segami.

[felix_numinous]

25. K&R!!!!!

NO one else has stood up on this issue.

[jfern]

27. Hillary isn't sure what the Likud position is, so she can't state her position

[MattP]

28. Bernie didn't give a yes or no answer

Hillary later said she would support the bill

[desmiller]

29. K & R & Bookmarked

[Faux pas]

31. Kickin'

and not jumping into the fray

[EndElectoral]

32. HRC's response is just stunning. Even pro-HRC Stephanopolous was taken aback.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. America has been taken hostage by SA. Do we now negotiate with hostage takers?

[Segami]

36. That pretty much sums it up...

If you go ahead with this bill, we'll respond forcefully with an attempt to inflict maximum harm on the U.S. economy and it's citizens........it's a direct threat against the U.S......Do as we say or else!


It's your move PO.........

[DisgustipatedinCA]

39. If you want to see unity from Berners, Clintonistas, Trumpers, and Cruz idiots

...this is exactly how it's done. Depending on what's in these papers, we may all want to get together to go rip some throats out.

[Duppers]

40. He allowed the largest sale of arms

In U.S. history to S.A.
$60bn here, another few billion there and so it goes.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2010/10/20101020173353178622.html

Pretty much already bought off, wouldn't you say.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

38. If the 28 pages are bad enough, we may need to DO something about it.

I'm not going to go off half-cocked; I want to learn more about this. But anyone who attacks the United States on our own soil must pay a heavy penalty, an ultimate penalty.

[Duppers]

41. Big K & Recommend.

Go Bernie!

[Dont call me Shirley]

47. KnR! Go Bernie!