Everything I’ve read talks about all Gulf states being happy that the deal was signed and that there was a bit of hesitation from Saudia. The government of Lebanon has been following Saudia’s lead for obvious reasons. I also heard that even Qatar had been secretly helping in the negotiations since a few months.
agatharchides
November 26, 2013 11:05 am
FWIW, I’d say there may be a fair bit of sour grapes in Saudis approval of the deal. They probably don’t actually like it but they are smart enough to know that they can’t stop it and if they try they will simply be regarded as throwback sectarian bigots and ignored. Better to cut your losses and smile than be regarded as an obstacle in the way of all the great powers. Turkey is probably more sincere, they want to expand trade with Iran and as fear of al-Qaeda in north Syria grows in Anakara Iran is more and more seen as an acceptable partner again.
ritzl
November 26, 2013 11:06 am
Good article. Looks like the Lobby is running out of invented/self-invited groupings to mask its machinations.
Please keep peeling back the onion.
I guess my question is, as Walid just showed with four quick links to four separate Gulf countries, what drives people like Lehrer and Kaplan to just make stuff up? Can’t they help themselves? Is support for Israel just that ingrained?
They were not able to separate reality from fantasy on this deal/matters Israel.
Maximus Decimus Meridius
November 26, 2013 11:49 am
Although the Saudis have officially welcomed the deal, I doubt they’re particularly happy about it in private. It’s just that, unlike Bibi, they do know the art of diplomacy and are aware that throwing tantrums in front of the world’s press isn’t how you win friends and influence people.
That said, while the Gulf States won’t be happy about a rapprochement between Iran and the US, it’s nowhere near as big a deal for them as it is for Israel. I think the role of Oman in all of this is intriguing. The GCC states are very anxious not to anger the Saudis, yet Oman hosted the secret talks between the US and Iran – presumably with the full knowledge (and approval?) of Saudi intelligence. So yes, the picture is rather more complex than it’s being made out to be. I reckon the media just can’t see beyond this ”Sunni-Shia” rift that they’ve been fixated with over the past few years: They are assuming that if a country is majority Sunni, they MUST oppose the deal. Not so.
Citizen
November 26, 2013 11:51 am
I wish this article, and its author Phil Weiss could get on US main TV news media. No matter which channel U watch, they all trot out neocons and Zionist “experts” to tell John Q Public what’s wrong with the Iran deal. Nobody is discussing the Israel Lobby’s hand in jeering the Iran deal. Never has reality been less represented than on the US mainstream media when it comes to anything impacting Israel. JFK was right: we need to change the US campaign finance system or we no longer have a government acting in American interests in foreign affairs regarding anything Israel.
Everything I’ve read talks about all Gulf states being happy that the deal was signed and that there was a bit of hesitation from Saudia. The government of Lebanon has been following Saudia’s lead for obvious reasons. I also heard that even Qatar had been secretly helping in the negotiations since a few months.
FWIW, I’d say there may be a fair bit of sour grapes in Saudis approval of the deal. They probably don’t actually like it but they are smart enough to know that they can’t stop it and if they try they will simply be regarded as throwback sectarian bigots and ignored. Better to cut your losses and smile than be regarded as an obstacle in the way of all the great powers. Turkey is probably more sincere, they want to expand trade with Iran and as fear of al-Qaeda in north Syria grows in Anakara Iran is more and more seen as an acceptable partner again.
Good article. Looks like the Lobby is running out of invented/self-invited groupings to mask its machinations.
Please keep peeling back the onion.
I guess my question is, as Walid just showed with four quick links to four separate Gulf countries, what drives people like Lehrer and Kaplan to just make stuff up? Can’t they help themselves? Is support for Israel just that ingrained?
They were not able to separate reality from fantasy on this deal/matters Israel.
Although the Saudis have officially welcomed the deal, I doubt they’re particularly happy about it in private. It’s just that, unlike Bibi, they do know the art of diplomacy and are aware that throwing tantrums in front of the world’s press isn’t how you win friends and influence people.
That said, while the Gulf States won’t be happy about a rapprochement between Iran and the US, it’s nowhere near as big a deal for them as it is for Israel. I think the role of Oman in all of this is intriguing. The GCC states are very anxious not to anger the Saudis, yet Oman hosted the secret talks between the US and Iran – presumably with the full knowledge (and approval?) of Saudi intelligence. So yes, the picture is rather more complex than it’s being made out to be. I reckon the media just can’t see beyond this ”Sunni-Shia” rift that they’ve been fixated with over the past few years: They are assuming that if a country is majority Sunni, they MUST oppose the deal. Not so.
I wish this article, and its author Phil Weiss could get on US main TV news media. No matter which channel U watch, they all trot out neocons and Zionist “experts” to tell John Q Public what’s wrong with the Iran deal. Nobody is discussing the Israel Lobby’s hand in jeering the Iran deal. Never has reality been less represented than on the US mainstream media when it comes to anything impacting Israel. JFK was right: we need to change the US campaign finance system or we no longer have a government acting in American interests in foreign affairs regarding anything Israel.