Huge US Weapons Sale to Qatar, Accused by Trump of Being “A Funder of Terrorism”

Trump and Tillerson apparently disagree on Qatar.

On June 9, the Secretary of State called for regional countries to “immediately take steps to de-escalate the situation.”

On June 10, he “called on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to ease the blockade on Qatar.”

On June 11, he said the situation regarding the country

“is the biggest testimony to US failure in the Gulf. (It) gives others the impression the US does not know how to manage the relationship with its allies or is incapable.”

Trump earlier said

“Qatar…has been a funder of terrorism at a very high level. We had a decision to make. Do we take the easy road or do we finally take a hard but necessary action.”

Qatar indeed supports ISIS and other terrorist groups. Expressing US support for Saudi Arabia, a family dictatorship, Trump ignored the epicenter of regional proliferated terrorism – along with Israel, other regional rogue states and America’s presence.

He was silent about Saudi public whippings, beheadings, torture, political prisoners, inequality and violence against women, along with other horrendous civil and human rights abuses.

He oozed praise for his Saudi hosts, sealed a $110 billion arms deal, signed a memorandum for around $350 billion over the next decade – to be used for aggression, homeland repression, and proliferating regional terrorism.

He lied saying

“(o)ur (shared) goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future…”

His first two foreign destinations were Saudi Arabia and Israel – the region’s most appalling regimes, allied with America’s war OF terrorism on humanity.

During his Riyadh visit, Trump called Qatar “a crucial strategic partner.” Back in Washington, he accused the Gulf state of funding terrorism.

This week, a deal was reached to sell Qatar F-15 warplanes, costing around $12 billion. According to Reuters and Bloomberg News, Defense Secretary Mattis finalized it during a Wednesday visit with Qatari officials.

Before Saudi Arabia and other neighboring states severed ties, Congress approved the sale of 72 warplanes costing $21 billion.

Praising the consummated deal, the Pentagon said it “strengthen(s)” bilateral defense ties in the battle against “violent extremism and promote(s) peace and stability in our region and beyond” – notions both countries consider anathema.

Qatar hosts Washington’s largest regional military base. Days after Trump accused the country of funding terrorism, two US warships arrived in Doha to take part in joint military exercises with its navy.

Last week, the Pentagon praised the country for hosting US forces and its “enduring commitment to regional security.”

Mixed messages from Washington make it unclear what its position is on the Gulf state.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Featured image: The Times of Israel


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Articles by: Stephen Lendman

About the author:

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.

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