The Trump speech in Riyadh has chosen sides rather than diplomacy in what seems to be a Trump doctrine of NIMBY-nationalism. In it, Trump continues the myth of domestic US terror threats/attacks that often have more complex causes other than those in Islamic countries, with scant reference to the failed multi-nation travel ban and laptop restrictions.
Trump continues to blurt a cobbled-together NIMBY-nationalism, which tells Muslim countries that the US despite its Islamophobia, is behind some of them, as long as they kill each other and stay in their lane. The world of nations as gated communities. America First means selling you the means to kill yourselves without apparent thought about collateral costs.
Bannonism via Stephen Miller continues that ideology by putting up token remedies that have the ability to sharpen the historical conflicts among major Islamic sects in the longer view of Huntington/Spengler civilization clashes. Apocalypse soon… just wait for the fourth turning.
Unmentioned but implied are US support via arms sales to Saudi Arabia and its policy in Yemen and a certain lack of cooperation regarding ISIS in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile Russia rubs its larger hands in watching the US embroil itself in even more long-term conflict and peril.
Trump’s speech transcript simply continues the agenda of supporting regional strife as a matter of ignoring sectarian differences and economic development by suppressing weaker populations. And to “drive out” militants out to “other countries” is always so productive for new insurgent chaos, but that’s the fence-fetishizing NIMBY ethos.
Omitted from the speech was that the reformist candidate won in Iran. Note the lack of the term “radical Islam” that the RWNJ demanded be used as a matter of political correctness during the 2016 campaign.
Later today, we will make history again with the opening of a new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology -- located right here, in this central part of the Islamic World.
This groundbreaking new center represents a clear declaration that Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in combating radicalization, and I want to express our gratitude to King Salman for this strong demonstration of leadership…
But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it.
Few nations have been spared its violent reach.
America has suffered repeated barbaric attacks -- from the atrocities of September 11th to the devastation of the Boston Bombing, to the horrible killings in San Bernardino and Orlando…
The nations of Europe have also endured unspeakable horror. So too have the nations of Africa and even South America. India, Russia, China and Australia have been victims.
But, in sheer numbers, the deadliest toll has been exacted on the innocent people of Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern nations. They have borne the brunt of the killings and the worst of the destruction in this wave of fanatical violence.
Some estimates hold that more than 95 percent of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim…
America is prepared to stand with you -- in pursuit of shared interests and common security.
But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.
It is a choice between two futures -- and it is a choice America CANNOT make for you.
A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out…
The first task in this joint effort is for your nations to deny all territory to the foot soldiers of evil. Every country in the region has an absolute duty to ensure that terrorists find no sanctuary on their soil.
Many are already making significant contributions to regional security: Jordanian pilots are crucial partners against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Saudi Arabia and a regional coalition have taken strong action against Houthi militants in Yemen. The Lebanese Army is hunting ISIS operatives who try to infiltrate their territory. Emirati troops are supporting our Afghan partners. In Mosul, American troops are supporting Kurds, Sunnis and Shias fighting together for their homeland. Qatar, which hosts the U.S. Central Command, is a crucial strategic partner. Our longstanding partnership with Kuwait and Bahrain continue to enhance security in the region. And courageous Afghan soldiers are making tremendous sacrifices in the fight against the Taliban, and others, in the fight for their country…
I am proud to announce that the nations here today will be signing an agreement to prevent the financing of terrorism, called the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center -- co-chaired by the United States and Saudi Arabia, and joined by every member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It is another historic step in a day that will be long remembered.
I also applaud the Gulf Cooperation Council for blocking funders from using their countries as a financial base for terror, and designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization last year. Saudi Arabia also joined us this week in placing sanctions on one of the most senior leaders of Hezbollah…
But no discussion of stamping out this threat would be complete without mentioning the government that gives terrorists all three—safe harbor, financial backing, and the social standing needed for recruitment. It is a regime that is responsible for so much instability in the region. I am speaking of course of Iran.
From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms, and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region. For decades, Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror.
and how effective are counter-terrorism efforts with this level of intelligence cooperation…