Wanna know how crazy things are? Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the voice of sanity when it comes to the Israel-Hamas War.
When the Lunatic Becomes the Voice of Sanity
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication and WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a contributor to Centerclip and co-host of "The Final Countdown" talk show on Radio Sputnik. He is a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "2024: Revisited."
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The point is better made if MbS (and his Saudi predecessors) were identified to have undertaken a US proxy war against Ansar Allah (referred to as “Houthis,” an “unfavorable” western term) of Yemen – funded, supplied and supported with intel & propaganda flack … exactly as has been Israel by the US for ≥76 years and, in particular, for the ongoing, joint US/Israel genocide in Gaza.
Khashoggi’s US “journalistic” outlet was the Washington Post and thus is best considered a CIA asset. Would that 10% of the inexplicable and cringe-worthy deference showered upon him be transferred to Julian Assange.
Note that the almost year-old, China brokered establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran
(Israel’s self-perceived/declared existential threat) essentially nullifies any possibility of MsB treating Israel as the US
demands. Of course, said pact was essentially forced by Saudi Arabia’s weariness of being dictated to by decades of US wooden-headed policies especially when delivered by the uniquely catalytically wooden-headed Dirty Harry Biden.
The ONLY “lunacy” in this scenario (and ALL others the US undertakes) is the US’s attempted imposition of dictatorial “diplomacy” followed by its bewilderment when the brow-beaten recipient country says “put your ‘exceptional’ phantasm where the sun don’t shine.”
“He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.”
Or, if you prefer, the parable of the Farmer and the Viper from Aesop.
Or, McCoy’s commentary to Spock on the topic.
Or, Chakotay’s monologue to Janeway about the Scorpion and the Fox.
Whatever MSB says, I know it isn’t what he intends. It’s his nature. One shared by politicians, tech bros, HR departments, etc. If he says he wants a ceasefire and a two-state solution, it’s solely incidental, as Hannibal Lecter explained in “Silence of the Lambs,” going on to quote Marcus Aurelius: “For any particular thing, ask ‘What is it in itself? What is its nature?’ ”
Ask this: What benefit does MSB obtain from a two-state solution and a ceasefire? But don’t turn your back on him.