US President to Meet MBS, Remind Us Who Gets to Be a 'Pariah'
Recall that just a few short years ago, President Biden promised to make Saudi Arabia a 'pariah' state after the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based journalist. Yet, here we are, with the Oval Office welcoming MBS back into the fold, seemingly with a clean slate. The administration’s pivot—from condemning alleged human rights abuses to brokering potential defense deals—raises questions
about the consistent application of American values, particularly when arms sales are on the table. (And let's not forget the Abraham Accords' shadow looming large, promising more instability than peace). It appears 'pariah' is a temporary designation, easily revoked when geopolitical chess or arms deals beckon. One might wonder if the civilian casualties in Yemen, enabled by US-supplied munitions
under various administrations, or the jailing of dissidents, simply don't register on the 'pariah' scale this time around. The US government seems to operate on a flexible morality clause for its allies, especially those with lucrative oil reserves and a willingness to purchase advanced weaponry. How many journalistic dismemberments does it take to lose your 'ally' status, exactly? Or perhaps, how
much oil?