Politics Super Thread - keep it all in here

[Ponyo]

I didn't know all that about Hungary. 150 odd years under the Turks and then 400 years being basically governed by imperial Austria, and then the Soviets try to mould them. Seems as if they were in a very compromising position and already weak at the knees. Haven't heard many good things about their new PM Viktor Orbán in the last few years. Tough ruler

 

[Tiger5150]

Good to see so many people backing the butchers who have been funding ANY terrorist group that targets the west over our biggest ally.
Way to go.... suppose we won’t be counting on you if they ever choose to attack us - just blame the Yanks.

Don’t question the victim mentality. The only reason they resorted to, and continue to sponsor terrorism, is the colonial oppression they have suffered at the hands of the West. ****It is a common trait of recently independent countries like India and others.**
>**
To hold this belief, you need to put the blinkers on and ignore acts against neighbours that follow a different sect within a particular religion.

This.

Case in point East India Co.

I am reading a book at the moment about India and the East India company by Shashi Tharoor it is called Inglorious Empire and it is a compelling read about how India became a british colony by blatant robbery and underhand tactics.
It is a real eye opener to see how disgusting the tactics were in creating the british empire

Makes what Mahatma Gandhi was able to achieve even more amazing

He fought everyone , dealt with the class issues both within the British and Indians and the religious difference within India

My favourite book which deals with political persecution is the James A Michener Bridge at Andau which talks about the story of the Hungarians turning away from Communism and then fighting against Communism in 1956

Give me a drop of Hungarian blood any day thanks

Americans look pretty bad in this situation as well

Yeah don't mess with the Hungarians!

Too think they took out around 500 Russian Tanks with their bare hands and ingenuity is just thought provoking

And people forget they were one of the top sides in world soccer and water polo and lost a whole generation of sportsmen

Austrio-Hungarians sucked though
Nazi collaborators & imperialists


They werent Nazi collaborators. The Austro Hungarian empire didnt exist when the Nazi's existed.

You're absolutely right Glenn, Austrio-Hungarians were the imperialists and the Hungarians were the facist Nazi collaborators.


Im absolutely right that the AustroHungarian empire didnt exist at the time of the Nazi's but you have the rest of it totally wrong. The Austrians lost all of their empire outside of Austria. The Hungarians were not Nazi collaborators, they were "anyone but Russia" collaborators and were isolated. Mate I know you butt heads with me out of sport, but this is a topic I have first hand knowledge on.

Hungarians really were convinced by the Russians they'd be allowed to a socialist state

But the Americans were the real issue .....you can't go letter bombing a country telling them to drop Communism and then when they do offer no help whatsoever ..the world abandoned them with them screaming SOS for help from anyone


The Hungarians did not willing accept the Soviets or communism. They were desperate for the US to liberate them in 1945. The whole reason for the inital alliance with the Nazis was to protect them from the Soviets who were after them from 1918 and at the end of WW2 they wanted the US to liberate them from the Soviets.

1918 was the first year in 400 years that Hungarians were truly free, and 1944 was to be the last for another 50years.

My point if many of the Eastern bloc countries realized what Russia had planned for them in reality they would have left running and screaming

The Hungarians were hoping to be a socialist satellite country

Both Zoltan Tildy and Imre Nagy agreed that was the people's hopes

Once they were handed to the Soviets on a platter, that was the best that they could hope for. Hungary was the "food bowl" of the Soviet Bloc, eastern europes largest agricultural centre. Life for the Hungarians under soviet rule wasnt good but they did have it probably the best of all the soviet bloc. They never were short of food and culture (relatively) flourished. Communist Hungary was paradise compared to Romania, Poland and swathes of the USSR.

Happy it sounds like you have read a bit about Hungary. I recommend a book I think called "Blood in the Water" about the Hungarian Water Polo team that played the USSR in the final of the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. The story of the game is interesting enough but it also covers what happened in the 1956 uprising and what it meant to the returning athletes.

At the start of 1956 rebellion, the Soviets didnt think it was much and sent a small group of reservists and cadets to quell it and the Hungarians kicked their arses. The Hungarian Olympic team actually left thinking they had won the rebellion and were representing and independent Hungary. It was whilst they were away that the Soviets got serious and went back and smashed them.

 

[Ponyo]

Good to see so many people backing the butchers who have been funding ANY terrorist group that targets the west over our biggest ally.
Way to go.... suppose we won’t be counting on you if they ever choose to attack us - just blame the Yanks.

Don’t question the victim mentality. The only reason they resorted to, and continue to sponsor terrorism, is the colonial oppression they have suffered at the hands of the West. ****It is a common trait of recently independent countries like India and others.**
>**
To hold this belief, you need to put the blinkers on and ignore acts against neighbours that follow a different sect within a particular religion.

This.

Case in point East India Co.

I am reading a book at the moment about India and the East India company by Shashi Tharoor it is called Inglorious Empire and it is a compelling read about how India became a british colony by blatant robbery and underhand tactics.
It is a real eye opener to see how disgusting the tactics were in creating the british empire

Makes what Mahatma Gandhi was able to achieve even more amazing

He fought everyone , dealt with the class issues both within the British and Indians and the religious difference within India

My favourite book which deals with political persecution is the James A Michener Bridge at Andau which talks about the story of the Hungarians turning away from Communism and then fighting against Communism in 1956

Give me a drop of Hungarian blood any day thanks

Americans look pretty bad in this situation as well

Yeah don't mess with the Hungarians!

Too think they took out around 500 Russian Tanks with their bare hands and ingenuity is just thought provoking

And people forget they were one of the top sides in world soccer and water polo and lost a whole generation of sportsmen

Austrio-Hungarians sucked though
Nazi collaborators & imperialists


They werent Nazi collaborators. The Austro Hungarian empire didnt exist when the Nazi's existed.

You're absolutely right Glenn, Austrio-Hungarians were the imperialists and the Hungarians were the facist Nazi collaborators.


Im absolutely right that the AustroHungarian empire didnt exist at the time of the Nazi's but you have the rest of it totally wrong. The Austrians lost all of their empire outside of Austria. The Hungarians were not Nazi collaborators, they were "anyone but Russia" collaborators and were isolated. Mate I know you butt heads with me out of sport, but this is a topic I have first hand knowledge on.

Hungarians really were convinced by the Russians they'd be allowed to a socialist state

But the Americans were the real issue .....you can't go letter bombing a country telling them to drop Communism and then when they do offer no help whatsoever ..the world abandoned them with them screaming SOS for help from anyone


The Hungarians did not willing accept the Soviets or communism. They were desperate for the US to liberate them in 1945. The whole reason for the inital alliance with the Nazis was to protect them from the Soviets who were after them from 1918 and at the end of WW2 they wanted the US to liberate them from the Soviets.

1918 was the first year in 400 years that Hungarians were truly free, and 1944 was to be the last for another 50years.

My point if many of the Eastern bloc countries realized what Russia had planned for them in reality they would have left running and screaming

The Hungarians were hoping to be a socialist satellite country

Both Zoltan Tildy and Imre Nagy agreed that was the people's hopes


Once they were handed to the Soviets on a platter, that was the best that they could hope for. Hungary was the "food bowl" of the Soviet Bloc, eastern europes largest agricultural centre. Life for the Hungarians under soviet rule wasnt good but they did have it probably the best of all the soviet bloc. They never were short of food and culture (relatively) flourished. Communist Hungary was paradise compared to Romania, Poland and swathes of the USSR.

Happy it sounds like you have read a bit about Hungary. I recommend a book I think called "Blood in the Water" about the Hungarian Water Polo team that played the USSR in the final of the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. The story of the game is interesting enough but it also covers what happened in the 1956 uprising and what it meant to the returning athletes.

At the start of 1956 rebellion, the Soviets didnt think it was much and sent a small group of reservists and cadets to quell it and the Hungarians kicked their arses. The Hungarian Olympic team actually left thinking they had won the rebellion and were representing and independent Hungary. It was whilst they were away that the Soviets got serious and went back and smashed them.

Do you know know how Tito's Yugoslavia felt about this whole situation at the time?

 

[Tiger5150]

Good to see so many people backing the butchers who have been funding ANY terrorist group that targets the west over our biggest ally.
Way to go.... suppose we won’t be counting on you if they ever choose to attack us - just blame the Yanks.

Don’t question the victim mentality. The only reason they resorted to, and continue to sponsor terrorism, is the colonial oppression they have suffered at the hands of the West. ****It is a common trait of recently independent countries like India and others.**
>**
To hold this belief, you need to put the blinkers on and ignore acts against neighbours that follow a different sect within a particular religion.

This.

Case in point East India Co.

I am reading a book at the moment about India and the East India company by Shashi Tharoor it is called Inglorious Empire and it is a compelling read about how India became a british colony by blatant robbery and underhand tactics.
It is a real eye opener to see how disgusting the tactics were in creating the british empire

Makes what Mahatma Gandhi was able to achieve even more amazing

He fought everyone , dealt with the class issues both within the British and Indians and the religious difference within India

My favourite book which deals with political persecution is the James A Michener Bridge at Andau which talks about the story of the Hungarians turning away from Communism and then fighting against Communism in 1956

Give me a drop of Hungarian blood any day thanks

Americans look pretty bad in this situation as well

Yeah don't mess with the Hungarians!

Too think they took out around 500 Russian Tanks with their bare hands and ingenuity is just thought provoking

And people forget they were one of the top sides in world soccer and water polo and lost a whole generation of sportsmen

Austrio-Hungarians sucked though
Nazi collaborators & imperialists


They werent Nazi collaborators. The Austro Hungarian empire didnt exist when the Nazi's existed.

You're absolutely right Glenn, Austrio-Hungarians were the imperialists and the Hungarians were the facist Nazi collaborators.


Im absolutely right that the AustroHungarian empire didnt exist at the time of the Nazi's but you have the rest of it totally wrong. The Austrians lost all of their empire outside of Austria. The Hungarians were not Nazi collaborators, they were "anyone but Russia" collaborators and were isolated. Mate I know you butt heads with me out of sport, but this is a topic I have first hand knowledge on.

Hungarians really were convinced by the Russians they'd be allowed to a socialist state

But the Americans were the real issue .....you can't go letter bombing a country telling them to drop Communism and then when they do offer no help whatsoever ..the world abandoned them with them screaming SOS for help from anyone


The Hungarians did not willing accept the Soviets or communism. They were desperate for the US to liberate them in 1945. The whole reason for the inital alliance with the Nazis was to protect them from the Soviets who were after them from 1918 and at the end of WW2 they wanted the US to liberate them from the Soviets.

1918 was the first year in 400 years that Hungarians were truly free, and 1944 was to be the last for another 50years.

My point if many of the Eastern bloc countries realized what Russia had planned for them in reality they would have left running and screaming

The Hungarians were hoping to be a socialist satellite country

Both Zoltan Tildy and Imre Nagy agreed that was the people's hopes


Once they were handed to the Soviets on a platter, that was the best that they could hope for. Hungary was the "food bowl" of the Soviet Bloc, eastern europes largest agricultural centre. Life for the Hungarians under soviet rule wasnt good but they did have it probably the best of all the soviet bloc. They never were short of food and culture (relatively) flourished. Communist Hungary was paradise compared to Romania, Poland and swathes of the USSR.

Happy it sounds like you have read a bit about Hungary. I recommend a book I think called "Blood in the Water" about the Hungarian Water Polo team that played the USSR in the final of the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. The story of the game is interesting enough but it also covers what happened in the 1956 uprising and what it meant to the returning athletes.

At the start of 1956 rebellion, the Soviets didnt think it was much and sent a small group of reservists and cadets to quell it and the Hungarians kicked their arses. The Hungarian Olympic team actually left thinking they had won the rebellion and were representing and independent Hungary. It was whilst they were away that the Soviets got serious and went back and smashed them.

Do you know know how Tito's Yugoslavia felt about this whole situation at the time?

Generally or during the '56 Uprising?

Answer is I dont know much about how Tito's yugoslavia felt about it either way.

Happy to hear.

 

[happy_tiger]

Good to see so many people backing the butchers who have been funding ANY terrorist group that targets the west over our biggest ally.
Way to go.... suppose we won’t be counting on you if they ever choose to attack us - just blame the Yanks.

Don’t question the victim mentality. The only reason they resorted to, and continue to sponsor terrorism, is the colonial oppression they have suffered at the hands of the West. ****It is a common trait of recently independent countries like India and others.**
>**
To hold this belief, you need to put the blinkers on and ignore acts against neighbours that follow a different sect within a particular religion.

This.

Case in point East India Co.

I am reading a book at the moment about India and the East India company by Shashi Tharoor it is called Inglorious Empire and it is a compelling read about how India became a british colony by blatant robbery and underhand tactics.
It is a real eye opener to see how disgusting the tactics were in creating the british empire

Makes what Mahatma Gandhi was able to achieve even more amazing

He fought everyone , dealt with the class issues both within the British and Indians and the religious difference within India

My favourite book which deals with political persecution is the James A Michener Bridge at Andau which talks about the story of the Hungarians turning away from Communism and then fighting against Communism in 1956

Give me a drop of Hungarian blood any day thanks

Americans look pretty bad in this situation as well

Yeah don't mess with the Hungarians!

Too think they took out around 500 Russian Tanks with their bare hands and ingenuity is just thought provoking

And people forget they were one of the top sides in world soccer and water polo and lost a whole generation of sportsmen

Austrio-Hungarians sucked though
Nazi collaborators & imperialists


They werent Nazi collaborators. The Austro Hungarian empire didnt exist when the Nazi's existed.

You're absolutely right Glenn, Austrio-Hungarians were the imperialists and the Hungarians were the facist Nazi collaborators.


Im absolutely right that the AustroHungarian empire didnt exist at the time of the Nazi's but you have the rest of it totally wrong. The Austrians lost all of their empire outside of Austria. The Hungarians were not Nazi collaborators, they were "anyone but Russia" collaborators and were isolated. Mate I know you butt heads with me out of sport, but this is a topic I have first hand knowledge on.

Hungarians really were convinced by the Russians they'd be allowed to a socialist state

But the Americans were the real issue .....you can't go letter bombing a country telling them to drop Communism and then when they do offer no help whatsoever ..the world abandoned them with them screaming SOS for help from anyone


The Hungarians did not willing accept the Soviets or communism. They were desperate for the US to liberate them in 1945. The whole reason for the inital alliance with the Nazis was to protect them from the Soviets who were after them from 1918 and at the end of WW2 they wanted the US to liberate them from the Soviets.

1918 was the first year in 400 years that Hungarians were truly free, and 1944 was to be the last for another 50years.

My point if many of the Eastern bloc countries realized what Russia had planned for them in reality they would have left running and screaming

The Hungarians were hoping to be a socialist satellite country

Both Zoltan Tildy and Imre Nagy agreed that was the people's hopes


Once they were handed to the Soviets on a platter, that was the best that they could hope for. Hungary was the "food bowl" of the Soviet Bloc, eastern europes largest agricultural centre. Life for the Hungarians under soviet rule wasnt good but they did have it probably the best of all the soviet bloc. They never were short of food and culture (relatively) flourished. Communist Hungary was paradise compared to Romania, Poland and swathes of the USSR.

Happy it sounds like you have read a bit about Hungary. I recommend a book I think called "Blood in the Water" about the Hungarian Water Polo team that played the USSR in the final of the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. The story of the game is interesting enough but it also covers what happened in the 1956 uprising and what it meant to the returning athletes.

At the start of 1956 rebellion, the Soviets didnt think it was much and sent a small group of reservists and cadets to quell it and the Hungarians kicked their arses. The Hungarian Olympic team actually left thinking they had won the rebellion and were representing and independent Hungary. It was whilst they were away that the Soviets got serious and went back and smashed them.

How easily they disarmed what resistance they were going to get was brilliant but simple

They get Pal Malater (the leading Hungarian military figure and defender of the Kilian Barracks ) to come to a meeting to discuss the handover /truce and simple captured him and then executed him and Imre Nagy two years later for conspiracy against the PR of Hungary

 

[happy_tiger]

I have read about the game you @Glenn5150 mentioned at the Olympics , pure brutality ...a bit of Wests v Manly

 

[Ponyo]

I was just genuinely curious @glenn5150 you mentioned eastern bloc Romania, Poland etc earlier - I was wondering how Yugoslavia felt about this whole situation given their influence on the region at the time and yugo-hungarian relations were bit sketchy in the past...

This is only an excerpt, but interesting:


 

[happy_tiger]

I have read about the game you @Glenn5150 mentioned at the Olympics , pure brutality ...a bit of Wests v Manly

I'm a James A Michener freak to be honest ..love his books ....Centennial , Hawaii , Chesapeake ,Alaska

 

[TillLindemann]

I know this is meandering from politics to history, but have a look at what Stalin did to the Ukrainians. Genocide by forced starvation killed millions in the 1930s. It's no wonder some Ukrainians fought with the Germans against Stalin.

 

[Tiger5150]

I didn't know all that about Hungary. 150 odd years under the Turks and then 400 years being basically governed by imperial Austria, and then the Soviets try to mould them. Seems as if they were in a very compromising position and already weak at the knees. ***Haven't heard many good things about their new PM Viktor Orbán in the last few years. Tough ruler***

Not having a go at you Ponyo, but again this opinion is based on the prism through which the perception is formed.

Orban Viktor is generally *loved* by the Hungarian people.

Again, this has to be looked at through the prism of Hungary historically. As we have previously discussed here, Hungary had a brief moment of self rule between the two world wars after hundreds of years of occupation and have been free and independent only since 1991 which is a blip in history. Again since 1991 Hungary has had a series of governments and the majority of them have actually been socialists. There has been a bit of sentimentality in Hungary amongst some Hungarians as there have been a lot of teething problems with the transfer to democracy and there has been some "well at least we all had a job" hazy memory stuff going on.

Bottom line a succession of socialist governments were wracked with corruption and Hungary generally and Budapest particularly declined badly.

Orban Viktor is no doubt a tough guy and has made some dodgy changes to the constitution but he has also rooted out corruption within the government and to some extent in society and has redirected millions of $$ into restoration of Budapest and the country and economy generally. Budapest is thriving and has enjoyed its largest numbers of tourists ever over the last two years. It is an extremely safe city. Hungarians love him.

The EU hate him. EU has imposed significant economic restrictions on Hungary because Hungary would not follow the EU rules on immigration. Orban gave them the finger, told them to do their worst and the Hungarian people applauded. Before anyone interprets this as typical right wing racist or xenophobic action....again remember this country has been invaded and oppressed for all but 40 of the last 700 years and Hungary is the first country of the Schengen Zone and millions of migrants were to pour through Hungary and they could not have accomodated them physically or economically let alone the nations distrust of millions crossing their border.

 

[Tiger5150]

I have read about the game you @Glenn5150 mentioned at the Olympics , pure brutality ...a bit of Wests v Manly

It was. The story about after the game was as interesting. As I said these guys were jubilant thinking they were representing free Hungary but in fact they had to return to brutal Soviet dominance. Some escaped and sought asylum most had to go back, most were locked up when they got back. Some had horrible lives after. Interesting stuff.

 

[happy_tiger]

I was just genuinely curious @glenn5150 you mentioned eastern bloc Romania, Poland etc earlier - I was wondering how Yugoslavia felt about this whole situation given their influence on the region at the time and yugo-hungarian relations were bit sketchy in the past...

This is only an excerpt, but interesting:


Any person who spoke against the Russians were labelled Titoists or Trotskyists by the Russians or the AVH

 

[happy_tiger]

I was just genuinely curious @glenn5150 you mentioned eastern bloc Romania, Poland etc earlier - I was wondering how Yugoslavia felt about this whole situation given their influence on the region at the time and yugo-hungarian relations were bit sketchy in the past...

This is only an excerpt, but interesting:


Any person who spoke against the Russians were Titoists or Trotskyists

 

[happy_tiger]

I didn't know all that about Hungary. 150 odd years under the Turks and then 400 years being basically governed by imperial Austria, and then the Soviets try to mould them. Seems as if they were in a very compromising position and already weak at the knees. ***Haven't heard many good things about their new PM Viktor Orbán in the last few years. Tough ruler***

Not having a go at you Ponyo, but again this opinion is based on the prism through which the perception is formed.

Orban Viktor is generally *loved* by the Hungarian people.

Again, this has to be looked at through the prism of Hungary historically. As we have previously discussed here, Hungary had a brief moment of self rule between the two world wars after hundreds of years of occupation and have been free and independent only since 1991 which is a blip in history. Again since 1991 Hungary has had a series of governments and the majority of them have actually been socialists. There has been a bit of sentimentality in Hungary amongst some Hungarians as there have been a lot of teething problems with the transfer to democracy and there has been some "well at least we all had a job" hazy memory stuff going on.

Bottom line a succession of socialist governments were wracked with corruption and Hungary generally and Budapest particularly declined badly.

Orban Viktor is no doubt a tough guy and has made some dodgy changes to the constitution but he has also rooted out corruption within the government and to some extent in society and has redirected millions of $$ into restoration of Budapest and the country and economy generally. Budapest is thriving and has enjoyed its largest numbers of tourists ever over the last two years. It is an extremely safe city. Hungarians love him.

The EU hate him. EU has imposed significant economic restrictions on Hungary because Hungary would not follow the EU rules on immigration. Orban gave them the finger, told them to do their worst and the Hungarian people applauded. Before anyone interprets this as typical right wing racist or xenophobic action....again remember this country has been invaded and oppressed for all but 40 of the last 700 years and Hungary is the first country of the Schengen Zone and millions of migrants were to pour through Hungary and they could not have accomodated them physically or economically let alone the nations distrust of millions crossing their border.

And I guess you have to also remember the distrust of the Hungarians of many around them when they were stopped from leaving Hungary during the revolution

 

[Tiger5150]

I was just genuinely curious @glenn5150 you mentioned eastern bloc Romania, Poland etc earlier - I was wondering how Yugoslavia felt about this whole situation given their influence on the region at the time and yugo-hungarian relations were bit sketchy in the past...

This is only an excerpt, but interesting:


Interesting info Ponyo. I didnt know that level of detail of yugoslavia at the time but I can tell you that the perception of the Hungarians is that they were "lucky" because their dictator (premier) was a benevolent man. This is post '56. He was Hungarian, lived in a modest apartment and was reasonably generous to his people. Hungarians knew what was going on in Romania under Ceausescu where they were starving to death and they considered themselves lucky. There were (and still are) large tracts of Romania (Transylvania) where the people consider themselves Hungarian, speak Hungarian and they were treated even worse than the Romanians.

 

[Ponyo]

"Not having a go at you Ponyo, but again this opinion is based on the prism through which the perception is formed." Not at all Glenn, I appreciate your perspective on this, your take on it & how you broke it down here explains precisely why he's so loved in Hungary. The Schengen Zone/refugee situation and how he handled it gave him plenty of support that's for sure - the media were labelling him an nationalist right-winged extremist I recall - a lot of pressure/backlash from the EU. I'm not an advocate for porous borders but I personally think he was being a little unreasonable with the immigrant/refugee crisis. Just my opinion but thank you for enlightening me on this topic. I have to ask, are you Hungarian?

Edit: you're very knowledgeable on the subject matter that's why I'm asking, not being snarky

 

[Ponyo]

Right on @Glenn5150 I appreciate you taking the time. I have cousins that are half Hungarian by blood relation only, they don't identify. I was being a bit ignorant earlier but suffice it to say I've learnt a bit here.

 

[fair dinkum]

**Why are the Saudis untouchable**

Economics

Money truly is at the heart of most if not all problems.

"Nixon’s decision in 1971 to withdraw the United States from the gold standard greatly influenced the future direction of humanity. The US dollar rose in importance from the mid-1950s to become the world reserve currency as a result of the need for countries to use the dollar in trade. One of the most consumed commodities in the world is oil, and as is well known, the price is set by OPEC in US dollars, with this organization being strongly influenced by Saudi Arabia.

It is therefore towards Riyadh that we must look in order to understand the workings of the **petrodollar**. After the dollar was withdrawn from the gold standard, Washington made an arrangement with Riyadh to price oil solely in dollars. In return, the Saudis received protection and were granted a free hand in the region. This decision forced the rest of the world to hold a high amount of US dollars in their currency reserves, requiring the purchase of US treasuries. The relationship between the US dollar and oil breathed new life to this currency, placing it at the centre of the global financial and economic system. This privileged role enjoyed by the dollar allowed the United States to finance its economy through the simple process of printing its fiat currency, relying on its credibility and supported by the petrodollar that required other countries to store reserves of US treasuries in their basket of currencies.

Nobody should delude themselves into believing that this is the only reason why Saudi-US relations are important. Washington is swimming in the money showered by Saudi lobbies, and it is doubtful that those on the receiving end of such largesse will want to make the party stop.

The agreement made between Washington and Riyadh guaranteed that the latter would receive protection from the former and Washington would look the other way regarding Riyadh’s behavior within its kingdom and in the region – so long as Saudi Arabia sold its black gold in US dollars alone.........after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 (Iran’s nationalist prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, had been previously overthrown by the US and UK in 1953), Riyadh and Washington decided to declare war on their common enemy, with the hearty approval of Israel. The cooperation between Riyadh and Washington became even closer in the 1980s, through the common campaign against the USSR in Afghanistan through the use of jihadists recruited, trained and armed by the Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the US secret services. The use of jihadist terrorism as a geopolitical weapon has been a main feature of Riyadh’s statecraft."


Small exert from - The Untouchable US-Saudi Relation Is a Core Element of US Imperialism by Federico Pieraccini

 

[Harvey]

**Why are the Saudis untouchable**

Economics

Money truly is at the heart of most if not all problems.

"Nixon’s decision in 1971 to withdraw the United States from the gold standard greatly influenced the future direction of humanity. The US dollar rose in importance from the mid-1950s to become the world reserve currency as a result of the need for countries to use the dollar in trade. One of the most consumed commodities in the world is oil, and as is well known, the price is set by OPEC in US dollars, with this organization being strongly influenced by Saudi Arabia.

It is therefore towards Riyadh that we must look in order to understand the workings of the **petrodollar**. After the dollar was withdrawn from the gold standard, Washington made an arrangement with Riyadh to price oil solely in dollars. In return, the Saudis received protection and were granted a free hand in the region. This decision forced the rest of the world to hold a high amount of US dollars in their currency reserves, requiring the purchase of US treasuries. The relationship between the US dollar and oil breathed new life to this currency, placing it at the centre of the global financial and economic system. This privileged role enjoyed by the dollar allowed the United States to finance its economy through the simple process of printing its fiat currency, relying on its credibility and supported by the petrodollar that required other countries to store reserves of US treasuries in their basket of currencies.

Nobody should delude themselves into believing that this is the only reason why Saudi-US relations are important. Washington is swimming in the money showered by Saudi lobbies, and it is doubtful that those on the receiving end of such largesse will want to make the party stop.

The agreement made between Washington and Riyadh guaranteed that the latter would receive protection from the former and Washington would look the other way regarding Riyadh’s behavior within its kingdom and in the region – so long as Saudi Arabia sold its black gold in US dollars alone.........after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 (Iran’s nationalist prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, had been previously overthrown by the US and UK in 1953), Riyadh and Washington decided to declare war on their common enemy, with the hearty approval of Israel. The cooperation between Riyadh and Washington became even closer in the 1980s, through the common campaign against the USSR in Afghanistan through the use of jihadists recruited, trained and armed by the Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the US secret services. The use of jihadist terrorism as a geopolitical weapon has been a main feature of Riyadh’s statecraft."


Small exert from - The Untouchable US-Saudi Relation Is a Core Element of US Imperialism by Federico Pieraccini

The Untouchable US-Saudi Relation Is a Core Element of US Imperialism by Federico Pieraccini.

Sounds like a great author with no agenda. What else is on his greatest hits album?

I personally like:
Are The US And Israel Preparing for War in The Middle East? (1/2 Iran)
Julian Assange Is Guilty Only of Revealing the Evil Soul of US Imperialism - Global Research
US Has a Plan for Eastern Syria, and It Relies on ISIS
Netanyahu Insists on Involving Israel in War: What is Moscow’s Position?
Ukraine Wants Nuclear Weapons: Will the West Bow to the Regime in Kiev?
How a United Russia, Iran and China Are Changing the World - For the Better

Can I recommend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w2dMekIJLw

 

[fair dinkum]

**Why are the Saudis untouchable**

Economics

Money truly is at the heart of most if not all problems.

"Nixon’s decision in 1971 to withdraw the United States from the gold standard greatly influenced the future direction of humanity. The US dollar rose in importance from the mid-1950s to become the world reserve currency as a result of the need for countries to use the dollar in trade. One of the most consumed commodities in the world is oil, and as is well known, the price is set by OPEC in US dollars, with this organization being strongly influenced by Saudi Arabia.

It is therefore towards Riyadh that we must look in order to understand the workings of the **petrodollar**. After the dollar was withdrawn from the gold standard, Washington made an arrangement with Riyadh to price oil solely in dollars. In return, the Saudis received protection and were granted a free hand in the region. This decision forced the rest of the world to hold a high amount of US dollars in their currency reserves, requiring the purchase of US treasuries. The relationship between the US dollar and oil breathed new life to this currency, placing it at the centre of the global financial and economic system. This privileged role enjoyed by the dollar allowed the United States to finance its economy through the simple process of printing its fiat currency, relying on its credibility and supported by the petrodollar that required other countries to store reserves of US treasuries in their basket of currencies.

Nobody should delude themselves into believing that this is the only reason why Saudi-US relations are important. Washington is swimming in the money showered by Saudi lobbies, and it is doubtful that those on the receiving end of such largesse will want to make the party stop.

The agreement made between Washington and Riyadh guaranteed that the latter would receive protection from the former and Washington would look the other way regarding Riyadh’s behavior within its kingdom and in the region – so long as Saudi Arabia sold its black gold in US dollars alone.........after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 (Iran’s nationalist prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, had been previously overthrown by the US and UK in 1953), Riyadh and Washington decided to declare war on their common enemy, with the hearty approval of Israel. The cooperation between Riyadh and Washington became even closer in the 1980s, through the common campaign against the USSR in Afghanistan through the use of jihadists recruited, trained and armed by the Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the US secret services. The use of jihadist terrorism as a geopolitical weapon has been a main feature of Riyadh’s statecraft."


Small exert from - The Untouchable US-Saudi Relation Is a Core Element of US Imperialism by Federico Pieraccini

The Untouchable US-Saudi Relation Is a Core Element of US Imperialism by Federico Pieraccini.

Sounds like a great author with no agenda. What else is on his greatest hits album?

I personally like:
Are The US And Israel Preparing for War in The Middle East? (1/2 Iran)
Julian Assange Is Guilty Only of Revealing the Evil Soul of US Imperialism - Global Research
US Has a Plan for Eastern Syria, and It Relies on ISIS
Netanyahu Insists on Involving Israel in War: What is Moscow’s Position?
Ukraine Wants Nuclear Weapons: Will the West Bow to the Regime in Kiev?
How a United Russia, Iran and China Are Changing the World - For the Better

Can I recommend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w2dMekIJLw

I guess you watch plenty of ABC, CNN and the BBC for your balanced, unbiased and non agenda driven world view. :face_with_rolling_eyes: