Gulf States Discover American Politicians Can Be Bought
The story presents Gulf states as a moderating force, 'warning of regional instability' should the U.S. escalate against Iran. This comes as a shock to precisely no one who remembers the drumbeat to war with Iraq, Libya, or Syria. It conveniently sidesteps the consistent push from powerful lobbying groups like AIPAC, who have for years advocated for a hardline stance against Tehran, even as
OpenSecrets.org data shows AIPAC itself spent over $4 million in lobbying in 2023 alone, with its PAC contributing millions more to congressional campaigns. These 'warnings' from Gulf states sound less like genuine surprise and more like a poorly rehearsed play, given their own past engagements and the U.S.'s consistent prioritization of certain regional interests. Perhaps they’ve only just
realized that American politicians aren’t swayed by genuine concerns about 'stability' when there's an opportunity for continued arms sales and geopolitical positioning, all under the thinly veiled pretense of 'security.' The American public, of course, gets to pay for the show.