Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia after King Abdullah's death

[Algernon Moncrieff]

16. I posted this back in December, and it covers this situation

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025957183

Our nation needs to stop making expedient choices and adhere to our basic principles.

We are ostensibly a nation that believes in free speech and media; impartial courts; fair and free elections; religious freedom without state interference or endorsement; the freedom to arm oneself (or the freedom for states within the nation to arm themselves - depending on one's interpretation); the right not to be compelled to self-incriminate and not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

We need to craft a foreign policy that defines "American interest" as joining with nations that support those principles, and not allying with nations out of simple economic interest. That means not selling arms or sending troops to defend monarchies that practice slavery and religious intolerance (i.e. Saudi Arabia, et. al.); not selling arms or sending troops to defend dictators (the list is too long). One thing in which I am in complete agreement with some on the right: we should not be sending US troops to nations that will not allow those troops to practice their faith openly and freely. I'd add that we should not send troops to any nation that treats our female soldiers and sailors as second-class citizens.

...

America needs to become far less focused on world leadership and more focused on national and regional development. Want a secure southern border? Build a stronger economy and a better democracy in Mexico. Want an ally in Cuba? End the embargo, and make clear that democratic and economic advances in the post-Castro years (which are coming) will be met with increased US engagement. The US needs to stop feeling compelled to send troops to solve conflicts in the Middle East that, at the end of the day, are not our problem.