Trumpian pay to play continues as kleptocracy / crony capitalism continues unabated, implying that as usual the Treasury is being looted with capital diverted for private gain. No bribery or kickbacks here … because Orange snowflakery and the vigorish. Some countries will get the “Lockheed Discount” plus a little taste of nothing that will trickle-down. Trumpian bilateralism is more 1% profitable, even if it ultimately creates more collateral damage.
The deal was finalized in part thanks to the direct involvement of Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law and senior adviser.
He shocked a high-level Saudi delegation earlier this month when he personally called Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson and asked if she would cut the price of a sophisticated missile detection system, according to a source with knowledge of the call.
Pressured to finalize a massive $100-plus billion arms deal in the two weeks leading up to Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia, Kushner hoped to maneuver a discount on Lockheed's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system during the Saudis' visit to the White House on May 1 -- a request that Hewson said she would look into at the time.
Now in 2016, when there is overwhelming evidence that a foreign power has indeed meddled in our political system, adherence to the strict prohibition on foreign government presents and emoluments “of any kind whatever” is even more important for our national security and independence.
www.google.com/…
Still, this might not be an open-and-shut case. As with foreign emoluments, there is the question of standing for any legal challenge. And as we saw with the convoluted workaround Trump found to maintain his government lease for his D.C. hotel, it’s possible the president can carve out some wiggle room if he were to restructure his company in a way where he did not receive any of the cash while still in office. It will ultimately come down to how broadly a court is willing to interpret a clause with little precedent. As Brianne Gorod, chief counsel at the Constitutional Accountability Center, a Washington public advocacy law firm, put it to Reuters: “We’re in largely uncharted territory… given that past presidents have gone to great lengths to avoid the kinds of issues we’re now confronting.” Trump, however, appears content to sail headlong into them.
And what are the comparative policy differences as Trump makes a speech where democracy is never mentioned.
Obama, Riyadh press conference, April 2016: “Even as Iran is calling us ‘The Great Satan,’ we were able to get a deal done where they got rid of their nuclear stockpiles, and that makes us safer. That's not a sign of weakness, that's a sign of strength.”
Trump, May 2017: “For decades, Iran has fuelled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror. It is a government that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing the destruction of Israel, death to America, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.”
Trump, May 2017: “Until the Iranian regime is willing to be a partner for peace, all nations of conscience must work together to isolate Iran, deny it funding for terrorism, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they deserve.”
Human rights in Saudi Arabia
Obama, Riyadh speech, April 2016: “Even as these summits focus on security issues, it remains the case that true and lasting security also depends on governance and an economy that serves all its citizens and respects universal human rights.”
Trump, May 2017: “Our partnerships will advance security through stability, not through radical disruption. We will make decisions based on real-world outcomes – not inflexible ideology. We will be guided by the lessons of experience, not the confines of rigid thinking. And, wherever possible, we will seek gradual reforms – not sudden intervention.”
www.cnn.com/...
Or did Trump go golfing today?
Greens Course
Riyadh Green Course offers a challenging and enjoyable round to golfers of all levels, it is an official Par-72 championship course ideally situated just 20 minutes from Riyadh City Center. The Green Course was opened in 2005 to cater for the competitive golfer or for you to simply unwind and enjoy the beauty of the course.