MillenniumPost
Editorial

Trump continues with tradition

Critics of the United States of America are never surprised by the hypocrisy of its leadership when it comes to unelected authoritarian regimes in the oil-rich Gulf States. They will hurl all sorts of serious allegations against a Bashar Al-Assad in Syria for his complete disregard for democratic principles while hobnobbing with the King of Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, however, US President Donald Trump took it to another level during his visit to the Arabian kingdom. He praised the Saudi establishment as allies against "Islamist extremism" and "the oppression of women" during his recent visit, especially at a time when Iranian voters came onto the streets to celebrate their moderate and reformist President's landslide electoral victory.

One could not help but notice the stark contrast in images of Iranian voters dancing on the streets, while Trump and his coterie were dancing with swords in Saudi Arabia. Trump evidently made no mention of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who was a key player in the landmark nuclear deal with a US-led coalition of major global powers, helping avert another conflict that American allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, still seek. Instead, Trump promised the Saudi Arabian establishment and other autocrats in the room, including the King of Bahrain and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt that he would work with them "to isolate Iran".

The cherry on top was a promise "to help our Saudi friends to get a good deal" from American arms makers. It's safe to suggest that irony died when Trump accompanied the King of Saudi Arabia, and other leaders to open a new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh. It is no secret that the Saudi Kingdom, backed by the supply of American arms, has played a pivotal role in aiding the surge of extremist Sunni ideologies and terror modules across the region, extending all the way to the Indian subcontinent. In 2014, Wikileaks released a 2014 email from Hillary Clinton, acknowledging that US-backed regimes in Saudi Arabia and Qatar have supported transnational terror groups like the IS. "We need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIL and other radical Sunni groups in the region," the document states, ignoring the fact that Washington played a pivotal role in spawning the creation of ISIS.

In fact, in another leaked email, Clinton also admits that "the Saudis have exported more extreme ideology than any other place on earth over the course of the last 30 years." It is imperative to note that when it comes to hobnobbing with the Saudi regime, both Republicans and Democrats are equal offenders, as recent Wikileaks disclosures suggest. Closer to home, the Arabian kingdom is also a primary source of funds for Islamist militant groups like the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, a fact even accepted by Washington. Nonetheless, the American establishment continues to sell arms and buy oil from the Saudi kingdom, allowing it to further fuel atrocities in war-torn nations like Yemen. Iran, on the other hand, is not perfect, despite the resounding electoral mandate for Rouhani. The West Asian country is also dealing with reactionary and radical elements within its establishment, backed by their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. By no stretch of the imagination is Iran a full-fledged democracy as real powers are vested with the Supreme Leader.

Nonetheless, Rouhani's re-election on a platform of moderation and greater social and economic engagement beyond the nation's borders is a sign of what a majority or Iranians want. Unlike many sovereign nations in the Middle East, the flame of moderation is still alive in Iran. Backed by widespread support, Rouhani can gradually pursue his reformist agenda. For India, the development of the Chabahar port, Afghanistan region, and in the commercial domains are points of convergence with Iran. Both nations are on the same page on tackling the reactionary Sunni-based terror groups, including ISIS and the Taliban. Standing in the way of India's complete embrace of Iran is the US which continues to impose non-nuclear sanctions.
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