The Hill Discovers Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Record, Just in Time
Funny how it takes jokes for The Hill to notice the brutal realities within Saudi Arabia. The same Saudi Arabia that was, and largely remains, a staunch U.S. ally, purchasing billions in U.S. arms annually. ($1.3 billion from the U.S. in 2022 alone, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.) The brutal crackdown on dissent, the mass executions—those were apparently not
noteworthy enough on their own for an opinion piece to question the 'fun' of a nation that buys American weapons and hosts U.S. bases. The Hill's sudden concern for Saudi free expression conveniently ignores the consistent military and political backing the kingdom receives from Washington, despite these abuses. One might wonder if the moral outrage is conditional, perhaps inversely proportional
to armament contracts, or suddenly activated when a culture festival makes for easy commentary. It's almost as if some human rights violations are more 'story-worthy' than others when the perpetrators are strategic partners.