Obama meets new Saudi king to shore up ties

I'm sure that'll be popular just like the half-mast flags flown around the world last week. When it comes to dealing with the Saudis, western leaders don't even bother to pretend that they're working for the people who elected them.

"This is an extraordinarily critical and sensitive time in the Middle East when everything seems to be falling apart. And the kingdom in some way is becoming an island of stability,” said Baker.

An enlightened haven of democracy, human rights, religious tolerance and non-interference.

I don't believe Saudi Arabia has conducted any airstrikes against its ISIS allies. Instead, they have been sending them money.

How is it Obama can find the time to meet a despot, but can't manage to make it to the free speech demonstration in Paris?

"In contrast to Saudi women, required to dress head-to-toe in black, Michelle Obama wore dark slacks and a blue top with her hair uncovered."

Well, good for her. I don't have a problem with that. She should also have driven the limousine around the flight line a few times to show that the world won't end, if women are allowed drive in Saudi Arabia.

McCain, a Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the kingdom was emerging “as the major bulwark” against efforts by Iran to expand its influence in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain.

Senator, which of the two regimes allows women to drive, and which demands that they have a male guardian accompany them to, for example, open bank accounts, cross borders or even seek surgery?

Saudi Arabia, who beheaded four people on the same day?

"... And the kingdom in some way is becoming an island of stability,” said Baker."

The cognitive dissonance is deafening.

'We stand for the rule of law, democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and equal rights. Don't worry mate, oil trumps little insignificant little details like that. Those darned commies in China though....'

SenseNotSoCommon:

" An enlightened haven of democracy, human rights, religious tolerance and non-interference "

Lemme see: That would be Saudi-Arabia, as described by Potus Barrack Hussein?