Trump in KSA and Ignoring Israel.

Donald Trump, speaking to a packed room in KSA, was waxing lyrical about the new 'Golden Age of the US". Also, praising Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince, saying "What progress has been made in the Kingdom". Such as women now being allowed to drive, the opening of cinemas, glass towers springing up like weeds, and Saudi Arabia hosting peace conferences. Trump praised MBS's progress on limiting Wahabism, the strict code of Islam, liberalising some of the edicts. Trump also said he made a massive financial deal with MBS, selling US weapons to the KSA. He praised KSA and other Arab nations for stability and peace based on their traditions. With no Western interventions, no forever wars, no Western lectures on how they should do government.

Trump said, unlike his predecessors, he didn't believe in wars. He mentioned Iraq and Afghanistan and the disaster they had been for both the people of those countries and the US. Trump said he was happy to see peace and stability in the Middle East. He said just as he renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, he was renaming the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf. At this, the hall full of Saudi and American VIPS, including MBS himself, cheered and applauded to the rafters.

The Persians, today known as Iran, probably won't be pleased. Speaking of which, Trump said he still hoped for a deal between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, he has made this point time and again. As part of any deal, would Iran still be allowed its civilian nuclear industry?

Iran, he continued, must stop supporting Hezbollah, Hamas, Syrian and Iraqi proxies, and the Houthis. Trump said that whether Iran continued under the rule of the Ayatollahs or not, he wanted to see a prosperous and peaceful Iran.

That's all well and good; however, the Iranians have said their nuclear industry is not up for "negotiation". Iran will not want to give up its primary defence, its missiles and drones. It may resist giving up support for its proxies, too.

Trump said the window for a deal between the two was closing, but he still hoped for a positive outcome. Trump has threatened Iran with military action if it does not reach an accommodation with the US. So we will have to see how this tricky situation pans out.

Trump mentioned how he had reached a ceasefire with the Houthis. How, through talking to Hamas, he had gotten the last American hostage of Israeli nationality out. He also said he wanted the Israeli hostages home, and condemned Hamas' actions of October 7. He also said he wanted to help the suffering in Gaza. Absent from his speech was the condemnation of Israel in its near genocidal actions in Gaza.

Trump also mentioned he had lifted sanctions on Syria, now that Assad was gone. Trump has met the new Syrian President, a former ISIS operative with a price on his head.

How times change, a former terrorist and now a man, taking his position as a world statesman. Trump spoke at length about how he made the US great again.

Trump made no mention of human rights in KSA. Despite MBS's reforms, Saudi Arabia remains a religious dictatorship with harsh Sharia rules. Where flogging, the cutting off of one's hand, and beheadings are still commonplace. Where workers from overseas who help put up those towers, Trump admires, work for a pittance and are treated like slaves.

One notable country not visited on this trip is Israel. Trump, according to some reports, has fallen out with Netanyahu. Trump has distanced himself from the Israeli PM as he feels Netanyahu is slippery and was manipulating him.

tive

Iran