Trump Defends Saudi MBS, Gets NPR Approval for Being 'President'
NPR dutifully reports that President Trump 'defends' Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a White House visit, followed by poll numbers. What goes unmentioned, of course, is that 'MBS' is credibly linked by U.S. intelligence to Jamal Khashoggi's murder, and oversees a regime that has devastated Yemen, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The 'defense' is merely a
continuation of Washington's bipartisan tradition of embracing authoritarian allies, regardless of their body count, as long as they serve US strategic (and energy) interests. It's fascinating how a headline can feature a 'defense' of a figure implicated in state-sponsored murder, then pivot to approval ratings, as if the first item isn't directly relevant to public opinion or ethical leadership.
One might wonder if the 'president's low approval rating' is somehow disconnected from his coziness with dictators. Or perhaps, for some, protecting resource-rich allies always trumps human rights, a timeless classic in the international relations playbook.