Should the US support Saudi Arabia knowing that Saudi Arabia is an ablosute monarchy and has one of the worlds worst Human Rights records?

SGT Robert Ishoy — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:49:27 -0400

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Apr 3 at 2015 5:17 PM

SFC Christopher Perry — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 17:17:28 -0400

Saudi Arabia is a tough one for me personally. They have.a long track record of being our "friend" when it is convenient for them. But then, we have a lot of those these days.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 4 at 2015 12:36 AM

SGT John Wesley — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 00:36:42 -0400

They are our strongest ally in the region. They've done more than most of our friends in most regions

Response by LTC John Wilson made Apr 9 at 2015 12:01 AM

LTC John Wilson — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 00:01:38 -0400

Unfortunately, we have no choice. The value of our US Dollar as a world reserve currency is dependent upon Saudis selling oil in USD only in exchange for our agreement to protect the Kingdom and the Royal Family. When Nixon took us of the Bretton-Woods gold standard Kissinger made the deal with ths Saudis to prop up our fiat currency in the world markets. However the indiscipline of politicians and reserve bankers, coupled with Obama's deliberate overatures to set Iran as the regional leader has the House of Saud looking for other benefactors. The day the Saudis begin selling oil in anything other than US Dollars, all our toilet paper will likely flood back home as an eager global economy dumps the Dollar. The resulting hyperinflation will make the Weimer Republic look like a stable economy.

Response by LTC John Wilson made Apr 9 at 2015 12:15 AM

LTC John Wilson — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 00:15:12 -0400

Regarding toilet paper allow me to elaborate... the inherent value of any currency as a medium of economic exchange is inherent with its scarcity...which is why commodities-based currencies are very stable. Fiat currencies however have nothng to back them save the promises of politicians that they are worth something. In theory, fiat currencies should work fine so long as those in charge of the printing presses keep the currency supply reasonable low (high demand for limited supply = high market value). Unfortunately, human nature (i.e. greed and averice) coupled with the unaccountable anonymity of bureaucracies leads to over production (imagine if you had a legal printing press in your basement and could print money anytime you needed to pay a bill without anyone questioning you). Therefore, since a fiat currency's value is found in its scarcity, when it is mass produced to the point that it is as common as toilet paper, then that is all it will be worth.

Response by SGT Robert Ishoy made Apr 10 at 2015 12:41 PM

SGT Robert Ishoy — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:41:40 -0400

It seems like the debate is between doing what is right or doing the right thing. As a nation do we do what is practical in an economic and strategic sense or do we do what is morally correct? There are good arguments for both. As for me, I want to take the high moral ground. But I do understand the other half of the debate. Perhapes there is a solution some where in between. Any ideas?

Response by PFC Stephen Eric Serati made Apr 14 at 2015 3:05 PM

PFC Stephen Eric Serati — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:05:41 -0400

Good question.There is news about the Saudi Gov helping to fin 911,if true we need to take another look at our so called friends and I would start with the co owner of fox news.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 1:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:23:47 -0400

We shouldn't get involved in the internal politics of a foreign nation, other than encouraging all nations to form governments that are elected by the people and which have constitutions designed to protect what we see as basic human rights.

Signing treaties with nations to protect them from foreign aggression, especially when the goods their producing are of great economic benefit to the US seems reasonable.

I don't believe anything more than that is appropriate given the human rights record of Saudi Arabia. We tend to prefer Saudi Arabia/Pakistan over Iran as a principle power in the region, however I believe it's a mistake to gloss over the human rights record of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Support for such brutal regimes reflects poorly on the US.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 1:46 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:46:22 -0400

Saudi's got oil, it's in our national interest to keep oil prices low, and therefore in our interest to exert more influence over the Middle East than other nations. Saudi is one of the keys to that. I think that's really what it all boils down to. Do I think that's right? No, but the realist in me acknowledges that that's just how it is. To control natural resources is to have power, and people have and will continue to play the game.

It seems like almost any human issue can be boiled down to a struggle over sex and/or power.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 1 at 2015 12:11 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 01 May 2015 12:11:32 -0400

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/what-saudi-arabia-has-bought-for-dollar50-billion-in-its-oil-war/ar-BBj1tzN

What Saudi Arabia Has Bought For $50 Billion In Its Oil War

Saudi Arabia has spent nearly $50 billion of its foreign reserves to keep its domestic social contract going in the face of diminishing oil revenues.

Response by SGT Sherrie Fanning made Aug 11 at 2017 6:08 PM

SGT Sherrie Fanning — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 18:08:25 -0400

Most Definitely not.These People are sick individuals..

Response by SGT Sherrie Fanning made Mar 27 at 2021 1:05 AM

SGT Sherrie Fanning — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:05:53 -0400

Absolutely not , this Country is beyond barbaric..Women are treated horribly, and it's normal behavior..The only reason the United States deals with them is because of Oil and Money..