The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: HAPPY2BME on May 20, 2017, 10:45:08 AM
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (May 20, 2017) — President Donald Trump, in the first stop of his maiden trip abroad, received a regal welcome Saturday in Saudi Arabia, feted by the wealthy kingdom as he aims to forge strong alliances to combat terrorism while pushing past the multiple controversies threatening to engulf his young administration.
Trump arrived in Riyadh after an overnight flight and was welcomed at elaborate airport ceremony punctuated by a military flyover and a handshake from Saudi King Salman. He is the only American president to make Saudi Arabia, or any majority Muslim country, his first stop overseas - a choice designed in part to show respect to the region after more than a year of Trump’s harsh anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric.
The visit kicks off an ambitious international debut for Trump. After two days of meetings here, Trump will travel to Israel, have an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican and meet with allies at a NATO summit in Brussels and the Group of 7 powerful nations in Sicily.
Several jets then flew overhead leaving a red, white and blue trail.
Soon after, Trump tweeted for the first time on international soil as president. “Great to be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead.”
At a later ceremony at the grand Saudi Royal Court, the king placed the Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud, the nation’s highest civilian honor, around Trump’s neck. The medal, given to Trump for his efforts to strengthen ties in the region, has also been bestowed on Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama.
But fresh news reports about the Russia investigation surfaced shortly after Trump departed and threatened to overshadow the nine-day trip.
The New York Times reported that Trump called Comey “a real nut job” while discussing the ongoing investigation with two Russian officials in the Oval Office earlier this month. He also told them that firing Comey had “taken off” the “great pressure” he was feeling from the investigation, the Times reported.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that an unidentified senior Trump adviser was being considered a “person of interest” in the investigation. Separately, Comey agreed to testify at an upcoming, open hearing of the Senate intelligence committee, the panel said.
Despite those troubles, Trump was warmly received in Saudi Arabia in contrast to his predecessor. Saudi’s ruling family grew deeply frustrated with Obama’s detente with Iran and his restrained approach on Syria. The king did not greet Obama at the airport when he visited last year.
https://www.onenewsnow.com/ap/politics/trump-receives-regal-welcome-in-saudi-arabia
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(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/20/12/4091A2B700000578-4524666-US_President_Donald_Trump_receives_the_Order_of_Abdulaziz_al_Sau-m-11_1495280996489.jpg)
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(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/20/12/40919AA100000578-4524666-image-a-8_1495280789860.jpg)
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner arrive to attend the presentation of the Order of Abdulaziz al-Saud medal at the Saudi Royal Court
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(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/20/15/4092D9B300000578-4524666-image-a-29_1495288808200.jpg)
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump make their way to a luncheon after Trump received the gold King Abdulaziz medal
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(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/20/15/4092F4F100000578-4524666-image-a-32_1495288829573.jpg)
White House senior advisor Jared Kushner (center) stands alongside Donald Trump (left), commerce secretary Wilbur Ross (second from left) and chief economic advisor Gary Cohn (right) as they prepare to meet with Saudi Arabia's King and the Saudi delegation at the Royal Court in Riyadh
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(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/20/09/4088E61200000578-4524666-The_Saudi_government_is_playing_up_the_Trump_visit_hinting_at_co-a-4_1495269239791.jpg)
The Saudi government is playing up the Trump visit, hinting at cooperation with the U.S. to fight Islamic radicalism in the region
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SOME SAUD ROYAL FAMILY COLLECTED UTTERANCES
“I summon my blue-eyed slaves anytime it pleases me. I command the Americans to send me their bravest soldiers to die for me. Anytime I clap my hands a stupid genie called the American Ambassador appears to do my bidding. When the Americans die in my service their bodies are frozen in metal boxes by the US Embassy and American airplanes carry them away, as if they never existed. Truly, America is my favorite slave.” — King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, Jeddah 1993
“If the reputation builds that the Saudis take care of their friends when they leave office, you’d be surprised how much better friends you have who are just coming into office.” — Ambassador Prince Bandar referring to Washington Congressmen, State Department Arabists et al
When the head is rotten, it affects the whole body. — King Abdullah referring to Washington
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May 20, 2017
Saudi Arabia Greets Trump With Billions of Dollars of Deals
Officials gave different figures for the value of all the deals signed. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the agreements that were concluded valued more than $380 billion, $30 billion more than what was announced by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in the same news conference. Earlier in the day, Saudi Cabinet Minister Mohammed Alsheikh put the total at about $300 billion.
Honeywell International Inc., Nabors Industries Ltd., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. were among other U.S. firms to sign accords Saturday after American corporate titans met local business heads in Riyadh.
“Many of us sitting at the table are overseeing substantial investments in the United States,” Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on a panel at the inaugural Saudi-U.S. CEO Forum that included Saudi billionaire Lubna Al-Olayan and Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan.
Saudi Billionaire Says Companies Struggled to ‘Absorb’ Reforms
The kingdom’s PIF also said it contributed in SoftBank Group Corp.’s Vision Fund, in addition to contributions from Mubadala Investment Co., Apple Inc., Foxconn Technology Co., Qualcomm Inc. and Sharp Corp. SoftBank announced its first close of the fund Saturday with $93 billion of commitments. The Saudis may put as much as $45 billion into the venture, people aware of the matter said in January.
(https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/inHD4i3oJe.c/v3/1000x-1.png)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-20/aramco-to-sign-50-billion-in-deals-with-u-s-companies-today
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Saudi foreign minister: Trump visit 'turning point' in US-Islamic relations
President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia marks "the beginning of a turning point" in U.S.-Islamic relations, according to the monarchy's top diplomat.
"Today was a truly historic day in the relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States and we believe at the beginning of a turning point in the relationship between the United States and the Arab and Islamic world," Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a joint press conference with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday.
That's unlikely praise for a president once lambasted for proposing, during his campaign, a ban on Muslims entering the United States. It followed a signing ceremony for a weapons deal worth nearly $110 billion, part of an aggressive plan to counteract Iran's play for regional hegemony in the Middle East. Tillerson emphasized that the deal would support American jobs and advance Trump's goal of having U.S. allies and partners shoulder more of the burden for their own security.
"This growing partnership is really grounded in trust, trust between our two nations that we are pursuing the same objectives, cooperation, and a shared interest," Tillerson said. "The package of defense equipment and services supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf region, in particular in the face of malign Iranian influence and Iranian-related threats, which exist on Saudi Arabia's borders on all sides."
Tillerson also touted "a new Saudi-led hub" for counteracting jihadist propaganda online. "This center is going to concentrate heavily on how to enter that space, from the standpoint of experts that live in this part of the world and understand how to message to those who might be influenced by radical messaging," he said.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/saudi-foreign-minister-trump-visit-turning-point-in-us-islamic-relations/article/2623715
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Rex Tillerson and Wilbur Ross do Sword Dance in Saudi Arabia
Published on May 20, 2017
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li9dGCC2SdU[/youtube]
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Here is Trump walking through a sea of swords, in a country he has never been in before, amongst complete total strangers.
Could he do this in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle without getting instantly killed?
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZW9C1-5pw[/youtube]