Obama arrives in Saudi Arabia amid US ‘terror bill’ debate

[webfact]

Obama arrives in Saudi Arabia amid US ‘terror bill’ debate



RIYAD: -- US President Barack Obama arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday (April 20) to meet Saudi King Salman.

They will attend a summit with leaders from nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The summit, focusing on stability, counter-terrorism and Iran, was due to open on Thursday. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are also attending.

Many GCC leaders see Tehran as a threat to their security and say its involvement with Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions.

Justice Against Sponsors of Terror’ bill

Obama’s visit comes amid a debate in the US over a Senate bill that, if passed, would allow Americans to sue the government of Saudi Arabia over the attacks in the US on September 11, 2001.

The ‘Justice Against Sponsors of Terror’ bill has already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has not been scheduled for debate in the full Senate or the House of Representatives.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-04-21

[Boon Mee]

Snubbed big-time at the airport in Riyadh too.

[JakeSully]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

[JDGRUEN]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth. The U.S. imports most the needed oil not met by domestic from Canada and Mexico and it has been that way for years. 'Ya really have to keep up if you are going to make snappy comments.

Edited April 21, 2016 by JDGRUEN

[AlphaSoiDog]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth. The U.S. imports most the needed oil not met by domestic from Canada and Mexico and it has been that way for years. 'Ya really have to keep up if you are going to make snappy comments.

Really? A net of 4.6 million barrels per day imported in 2015 is hardly insignificant. 11% of that came from Saudi Arabia (about 185M barrels for the year from Saudi). And that is with the US producing more oil than they have in 40yrs.

http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=727&t=6

Yes, a larger portion of imports came from Canada but the Saudi component is high enough to push their agenda.

(i.e. the US could not function as it currently does without it.)

Edited April 21, 2016 by AlphaSoiDog

[cdnvic]

Inflammatory and off topic posts removed. Please stick to the topic.

[elgordo38]

I just wonder what those 28 pages of censored material hold? If Congress passes the bill that allows victims of 9/11 to sue individual countries and the Saudi's are implicated in them they have threatened to dump 750 billion in Tbills which no doubt would destabilize the US economy.

[spidermike007]

Tell those filthy rats we do not need their oil anymore, we will voluntarily buy our treasury bills back from them, and then we are done with them. They are the world's largest sponsors of terror. Let's call a spade a spade.

Edited April 21, 2016 by spidermike007

[stillbornagain]

Snubbed big-time at the airport in Riyadh too.

Coming from those fanatics, that snub is a badge of honor.

[stillbornagain]

I just wonder what those 28 pages of censored material hold? If Congress passes the bill that allows victims of 9/11 to sue individual countries and the Saudi's are implicated in them they have threatened to dump 750 billion in Tbills which no doubt would destabilize the US economy.

In the unlikely event that "dumping 750 billion in Tbills" were to occur, and in the even unlikelier event that it were to "destabilize the U.S. economy" it would be the Saudi economy which would suffer the most. By far.

Edited April 21, 2016 by stillbornagain

[Scotwight]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth. The U.S. imports most the needed oil not met by domestic from Canada and Mexico and it has been that way for years. 'Ya really have to keep up if you are going to make snappy comments.

Monthly data on the origins of crude oil imports in January 2016 show that two countries, Canada and Saudi Arabia, exported more than one million barrels per day to the United States. ....The top five sources of U.S. crude oil imports for January were Canada (3,446 thousand barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1,054 thousand barrels per day), Venezuela (650 thousand barrels per day), Mexico (630 thousand barrels per day), and Colombia (463 thousand barrels per day). The remaining top ten sources, in order, were Ecuador (334 thousand barrels per day), Iraq (252 thousand barrels per day), Kuwait (205 thousand barrels per day), Angola (166 thousand barrels per day), and Brazil (163 thousand barrels per day). Total crude oil imports averaged 7,675 thousand barrels per day in January, which was a decrease of 226 thousand barrels per day from imports during December 2015.

http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/imports/companylevel/

[Scotwight]

I just wonder what those 28 pages of censored material hold? If Congress passes the bill that allows victims of 9/11 to sue individual countries and the Saudi's are implicated in them they have threatened to dump 750 billion in Tbills which no doubt would destabilize the US economy.

That will never happen. As much as they HATE the U.S. and would love so see them wiped off the planet, they need the U.S. slaves military. The Saudis are surrounded by bitter, BITTER enemies. Should they piss off the U.S. to the point they are threatening, the U.S. would have little choice but to open the gates. A real hate/hate relationship.

And I am APPALLED that ANY nation would restrict their citizens from suing another nation. The REAL reason the U.S. doesn't want to pass that bill is that it would open up OTHER nations to suing the UNITED STATES. Talk about a global SHlT STORM if THAT happens!!! The U.S. has screwed over every nation they've contacted. For a real eye-opener, read this sumbitch:

http://www.pdfdrive.net/the-secret-history-of-the-american-empire-by-john-e6391421.html

You wrote, " The U.S. has screwed over every nation they've contacted."

Fact check time....Top 8 US allies 1. Great Britain 2. Canada 3. Israel 4. Japan 5. South Korea 6. Australia 7. France 8. Germany

http://www.thetoptens.com/best-united-states-allies/

[GeorgesAbitbol]

So the Obama administration (as well as the previous one) are lobbying AGAINST this bill?

Saudi has threaten to sell their assets (worth 750 billions $) if the bill pass.

But we can see how twisted this country his when a leader work against his citizen and want to save a relationship with a terrorist country, selling weapons and providing logistic to them...

I bet chuck'd will love this one

[Steely Dan]

So the Obama administration (as well as the previous one) are lobbying AGAINST this bill?

Saudi has threaten to sell their assets (worth 750 billions $) if the bill pass.

But we can see how twisted this country his when a leader work against his citizen and want to save a relationship with a terrorist country, selling weapons and providing logistic to them...

I bet chuck'd will love this one

To be fair the US government has also lobbied against compensation being awarded against Iran for plaintiffs accusing it of funding terrorist groups who killed US citizens.

[JDGRUEN]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth. The U.S. imports most the needed oil not met by domestic from Canada and Mexico and it has been that way for years. 'Ya really have to keep up if you are going to make snappy comments.

Really? A net of 4.6 million barrels per day imported in 2015 is hardly insignificant. 11% of that came from Saudi Arabia (about 185M barrels for the year from Saudi). And that is with the US producing more oil than they have in 40yrs.

http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=727&t=6

Yes, a larger portion of imports came from Canada but the Saudi component is high enough to push their agenda.

(i.e. the US could not function as it currently does without it.)

I repeat ... Mexico also supplies oil to the U.S. and I repeat that domestic production has recently been curtailed Both natural gas and petroleum. Whatever is being imported from Saudi Arabia is more likely to be a leftover partnership agreement based on old needs - or Obama's love for the Saudis.

Fracking in the U.S. has drastically increased U.S. domestic oil supplies over the past 10 years. Not to mention that Natural Gas production has increased enormously in the last 12-15 years ... to the extent if Obama was not playing obstructionist to domestic use ... natural gas could be used as CNG the same way Thailand uses it extensively to power automobiles. When Trump becomes President Natural Gas will be used - I bet good money - to power automobiles the same way that huge portion of cars are powered by CNG in Asia.. Thus drastically decreasing the need for any oil imports... Just ask T. Boone Pickens - the expert in the field of natural gas powered vehicles - who proposed this to Obama and he turned it down because Obama wants magic cars that run on some magic green fuel hydrogen that has not been proven yet and will not be for many years.

[JDGRUEN]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth. The U.S. imports most the needed oil not met by domestic from Canada and Mexico and it has been that way for years. 'Ya really have to keep up if you are going to make snappy comments.

Monthly data on the origins of crude oil imports in January 2016 show that two countries, Canada and Saudi Arabia, exported more than one million barrels per day to the United States. ....The top five sources of U.S. crude oil imports for January were Canada (3,446 thousand barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1,054 thousand barrels per day), Venezuela (650 thousand barrels per day), Mexico (630 thousand barrels per day), and Colombia (463 thousand barrels per day). The remaining top ten sources, in order, were Ecuador (334 thousand barrels per day), Iraq (252 thousand barrels per day), Kuwait (205 thousand barrels per day), Angola (166 thousand barrels per day), and Brazil (163 thousand barrels per day). Total crude oil imports averaged 7,675 thousand barrels per day in January, which was a decrease of 226 thousand barrels per day from imports during December 2015.

http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/imports/companylevel/

I repeat U.S. Domestic oil producers have cut back oil production in the past year from drilling to processing ... I notice you did not check that and have nothing to say about it ...

Also prior to this past year more oil would have been imported from Canada had Obama NOT stopped the building of the huge pipeline from Canada to U.S. refineries in the Gulf of Mexico... Thus we still import oil from Saudi Arabia ...

Edited April 21, 2016 by JDGRUEN

[Scott]

The US does import oil, but it also exports oil. It is relatively important that the refineries run at full capacity and all crude oil is not the same. As a result, we import crude that can be refined by the existing refineries and we export crude that is more problematic to refine.

The US is also exporting refined oil products, such as lubricants.

[Scott]

Here's a link to an article about why the US imports so much oil:

https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2014/10/28/why-is-the-u-s-still-importing-so-much-oil/

I am not sure that oil production is really the main point of this topic, though.

[Johpa]

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth.

King James the Baker and his courtiers in Houston care not where their oil, shared by the clan of Ibn Saud is transported. Whether it is exported to Japan or the US or elsewhere is irrelevant. What is important is (1) that it be paid for in US dollars and that (2) the Saudi partners, the clan of Ibn Saud be protected at all costs. A secondary item of importance is that the profits from the oil business be reinvested in profitable enterprises such as the Carlyle Group which in turn uses insider information to invest in companies, often defense related. There are other urban myths connected to this cabal of ne'er-do-wells that are far more frightening if proven to be even partially true. But in the meantime King James of Houston has sent his emissary, his plenipotentiary, the POTUS, to make a visit of reassurance.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Johpa

[rgs2001uk]

Excellent documentary.

[LomSak27]

The Secret of the Seven Sisters

seems a good conspiracy theory ...

Documentary series that reveals how a secret pact formed a cartel that controls the world's oil. Throughout the region's modern history, since the discovery of oil, the Seven Sisters have sought to control the balance of power.

They have supported monarchies in Iran and Saudi Arabia, opposed the creation of OPEC, profiting from the Iran-Iraq war, leading to the ultimate destruction of Saddam Hussein and Iraq.

At the end of the 1960s, the Seven Sisters, the major oil companies, controlled 85 percent of the world's oil reserves. Today, they control just 10 percent.

New hunting grounds are therefore required, and the Sisters have turned their gaze towards Africa. With peak oil, wars in the Middle East, and the rise in crude prices, Africa is the oil companies' new battleground.

In the Caucasus, the US and Russia are vying for control of the region. The great oil game is in full swing. Whoever controls the Caucasus and its roads, controls the transport of oil from the Caspian Sea.

But I am a highly snobbish individual who requires more from my conspiracy theories than this common fodder. Any others?

[craigt3365]

Seems the Seven Sisters was from some time ago. Different players now seem to be involved. Especially OPEC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sisters_%28oil_companies%29

Prior to the oil crisis of 1973, the members of the Seven Sisters controlled around 85 percent of the world's petroleum reserves;^[5] but since then, industry dominance has shifted to the OPEC cartel and state-owned oil companies in emerging-market economies, such as Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), China National Petroleum Corporation (China), Gazprom (Russia), National Iranian Oil Company (Iran), Petrobras (Brazil), PDVSA (Venezuela), and Petronas (Malaysia).^[1][6]

[Steely Dan]

I suspect there will be no consequences for alleged previous Saudi involvement with the 9/11 attacks because they are currently putting their own forces on the ground in Syria and Iraq to defeat ISIS.

http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/carter-pushes-gulf-states-to-give-more-aid-to-iraq-1.405337

Ash Carter is asking the Saudis to do more, but they are already doing so, this invitation is designed to make it easier for the Saudis to do so without being accused of imperialism.

[stillbornagain]

I suspect there will be no consequences for alleged previous Saudi involvement with the 9/11 attacks because they are currently putting their own forces on the ground in Syria and Iraq to defeat ISIS.

http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/carter-pushes-gulf-states-to-give-more-aid-to-iraq-1.405337

Ash Carter is asking the Saudis to do more, but they are already doing so, this invitation is designed to make it easier for the Saudis to do so without being accused of imperialism.

Did we read the same article? Carter asked the Gulf States to do more to aid Iraq in the fight against ISIS. In reply the Gulf States offered nothing. Nada. Zip. As Stars and Stripes put it: "The countries have been reluctant to give aid to Iraq's Shia-dominated government, which under former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki largely excluded Sunnis from military and government roles."

Whereas they are all too eager to back such vicious Sunni extremists as the Al Nusra front in Syria. Because in that case, the target is those evil Alawites, enemies of Islam and allies of Iran.

Edited April 22, 2016 by stillbornagain

[Rancid]

I suspect there will be no consequences for alleged previous Saudi involvement with the 9/11 attacks because they are currently putting their own forces on the ground in Syria and Iraq to defeat ISIS.

http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/carter-pushes-gulf-states-to-give-more-aid-to-iraq-1.405337

Ash Carter is asking the Saudis to do more, but they are already doing so, this invitation is designed to make it easier for the Saudis to do so without being accused of imperialism.

Seems an open secret that Saudis were involved in 9-11, those who have read the redacted pages have suggested at such. Imagine the families of the murdered would like to truth to come out., seems though neither Bush nor Obama want that.

Also seems Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9-11, nor Libya, Syria or Iran. So why has the US either been at war with or sanctioned all those countries? America itself didn't seem to benefit, so who did?

The Saudis are currently bombing the crap out of Yemen, mainly civilians, they are a reprehensible regime that also spreads twisted Wahabi Islam and support ISIS. What's that old expression, that you can judge a person by the friends they keep.

[craigt3365]

I suspect there will be no consequences for alleged previous Saudi involvement with the 9/11 attacks because they are currently putting their own forces on the ground in Syria and Iraq to defeat ISIS.

http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/carter-pushes-gulf-states-to-give-more-aid-to-iraq-1.405337

Ash Carter is asking the Saudis to do more, but they are already doing so, this invitation is designed to make it easier for the Saudis to do so without being accused of imperialism.

All I've read about SA involvement in the 9/11 attacks is perhaps them being accused of "turning a blind eye" towards what was going on. It there were direct links, that could be easily proven, they would have gotten out. Quite a few were on that commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11_Commission

From your source:

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/how-allegations-of-saudi-arabia-s-ties-to-9-11-plotters-became-a-problem-for-obama-again-1.405249

Under the orders of then-President George W. Bush, 28 pages of the joint inquiry's final 838-page report were classified. They sit under lock and key in a vault. According to multiple accounts from those who have seen the pages, they contain an entire section on the alleged links between Saudi officials and the 9/11 hijackers — of particular notoriety are the alleged links between the hijackers and a Saudi network that helped them when they arrived in California.

The government gave several reasons for not releasing the 28 pages, including national security. At the time, Saudi officials were among those who called for those pages to be released. "Saudi Arabia has nothing to hide," the then-Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, said in 2003. "We can deal with questions in public, but we cannot respond to blank pages."

So far, all we have are conspiracy theories about this...which make great fodder for news reports.

[Steely Dan]

^^

What's undeniable is the uneasy power sharing between the House of Saud and the Wahabbi religious leaders. As with Pakistan the followers of the latter no doubt infiltrate and hold some influence with the former. I suspect that dwindling oil revenues, ISIS in combination with a monarch who for once desires reform may lead to changes for the better. The Panama papers divulged details of accounts held by Saudi Royals, seeing as they control the Country the only reason I can think of for said accounts is hedging their bets if they face an uprising to depose them. Of course Saudi public opinion will be handled in a delicate manner, for this reason the true picture will no doubt be hard to come by.

[craigt3365]

^^

What's undeniable is the uneasy power sharing between the House of Saud and the Wahabbi religious leaders. As with Pakistan the followers of the latter no doubt infiltrate and hold some influence with the former. I suspect that dwindling oil revenues, ISIS in combination with a monarch who for once desires reform may lead to changes for the better. The Panama papers divulged details of accounts held by Saudi Royals, seeing as they control the Country the only reason I can think of for said accounts is hedging their bets if they face an uprising to depose them. Of course Saudi public opinion will be handled in a delicate manner, for this reason the true picture will no doubt be hard to come by.

The US hasn't been happy with SA for a long time. Most recently due to their actions to try to kill the new oil producers in the US. I've read some reports the Iran deal was done to punish SA (and Russia). Iran is pumping a bunch of oil and SA isn't happy about this. Their economy is hurting for sure.

As for religion? It's what causing the mess in the Middle East. Pure and simple. IMHO.

[spidermike007]

Shows perfectly how Americans are slaves to Saudis till oil and coal are replaced by renewable energy but don't tell that to general public.

Recently - American petroleum companies and drillers had to drastically cut back on drilling, pumping and processing due to the low oil price ... The U.S. does not import much Saudi oil ... just an Urban Myth. The U.S. imports most the needed oil not met by domestic from Canada and Mexico and it has been that way for years. 'Ya really have to keep up if you are going to make snappy comments.

Monthly data on the origins of crude oil imports in January 2016 show that two countries, Canada and Saudi Arabia, exported more than one million barrels per day to the United States. ....The top five sources of U.S. crude oil imports for January were Canada (3,446 thousand barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1,054 thousand barrels per day), Venezuela (650 thousand barrels per day), Mexico (630 thousand barrels per day), and Colombia (463 thousand barrels per day). The remaining top ten sources, in order, were Ecuador (334 thousand barrels per day), Iraq (252 thousand barrels per day), Kuwait (205 thousand barrels per day), Angola (166 thousand barrels per day), and Brazil (163 thousand barrels per day). Total crude oil imports averaged 7,675 thousand barrels per day in January, which was a decrease of 226 thousand barrels per day from imports during December 2015.

http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/imports/companylevel/

Nothing like real facts to sully a diatribe. Thanks. Good information.

[Steely Dan]

^^

What's undeniable is the uneasy power sharing between the House of Saud and the Wahabbi religious leaders. As with Pakistan the followers of the latter no doubt infiltrate and hold some influence with the former. I suspect that dwindling oil revenues, ISIS in combination with a monarch who for once desires reform may lead to changes for the better. The Panama papers divulged details of accounts held by Saudi Royals, seeing as they control the Country the only reason I can think of for said accounts is hedging their bets if they face an uprising to depose them. Of course Saudi public opinion will be handled in a delicate manner, for this reason the true picture will no doubt be hard to come by.

The US hasn't been happy with SA for a long time. Most recently due to their actions to try to kill the new oil producers in the US. I've read some reports the Iran deal was done to punish SA (and Russia). Iran is pumping a bunch of oil and SA isn't happy about this. Their economy is hurting for sure.

As for religion? It's what causing the mess in the Middle East. Pure and simple. IMHO.

I'm not sure the Saudis were aiming primarily at US oil producers, rather they were trying to restrict oil revenues to Iran, though they were no doubt also mighty unhappy with the U.S perceived capitulation to Iran on the nuclear talks. Make of this what you will but behind the scenes I suspect the Saudis and GCC are already very active in Syria/Iraq and are working hand in glove with Israel. The source is admittedly fringe, but interesting nonetheless.

http://www.thomaswictor.com/arab-troops-training/

Juxtapose the timing of this with Obama being in Saudi Arabia.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Steely Dan