Peter Van Buren. Introduction by b. traven.
Introduction (updated): In this article Peter Van Buren ( wemeantwell.com) graphically lays out the physical and philosophical ties between Saudi Arabia, a backward, medieval nation-state and the newly proclaimed medieval “caliphate” of ISIS. There is method to Peter’s “Saudi versus ISIS” approach. By showing how closely they are related – in their beliefs and tactics and behavior – he highlights the hypocrisy of the U.S. government’s strong support of the House of Saud versus its strong condemnation of ISIS. The Saudis, of course, buy American weaponry in the billions while acting to keep the oil supply both relatively cheap and fairly predictable for Western corporate interests. Their authoritarian and oppressive regime is thus embraced by Washington. (Who can forget the photo of George W. Bush holding hands with the Saudi Crown Prince?)
What about ISIS? ISIS is the product of Saudi Wahhabism, a fact noted by Le Monde diplomatique in the following quotation: “ISIS is merely an avatar of a jihadist Salafism encouraged by the Wahhabism of Saudi Arabia, an obscurantist monarchy that the West has always indulged.”
ISIS is spiritually and financially the spawn of Saudi Wahhabism. The U.S. government embraces the Saudis even as it professes to despise ISIS. Why is this? One answer, as ever, is to follow the money, especially in the global markets for oil and weapons. b. traven
Inhuman Monsters, by Peter Van Buren
Fun game time. Let’s see who are the most inhuman monsters in the Middle East, ISIS or Saudi Arabia.
— ISIS commits terror acts against Western targets. Almost all of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi, and most believe that Saudi money in part funded 9/11, and that Saudi money in part funds ISIS. Winner: Saudi.
— ISIS beheads people. Saudi beheads people. In 2014, the Saudis beheaded 59 people. The headcount, as it were, for ISIS is unknown. Winner: So, ISIS, by a nose.
— Both ISIS and the Saudis cite the Koran, Islamic teachings (the hadith) and Sharia law as justification for their brutal acts. Winner: Tie.
— The U.S. claims Saudi as one of its closest allies in the Middle East and supplies them with weapons. The U.S. claims ISIS as its worst enemy in the Middle East, and supplies them with weapons stolen or retrieved from other U.S. allies. Winner: Big, big win for ISIS.
— Saudi leaders are regularly invited to the White House. ISIS leaders are not. Saudi, FTW!
— The U.S. claims not to know where Saudi money goes. The U.S. claims not to know where ISIS money comes from. Winner: Double-win for ISIS!
— ISIS publishes a list of hadd crimes considered to be “against the rights of God,” such as theft, adultery, slander, homosexuality, and banditry. Saudi Arabia publishes a list of hadd crimes considered to be “against the rights of God,” such as theft, adultery, slander, homosexuality, and banditry. Winner: Dead tie.
— ISIS tortures political prisoners. Saudi tortures political prisoners. Winner: Tie again!
— ISIS and the Saudis are dedicated to Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam. Tie again!
— ISIS uses atrocities against both its internal and external enemies. Saudi uses atrocities against its domestic enemies who oppose the royal family. Winner: Saudi.
I could go on, but in the interest of efficiency, here, from Middle East Eye, is a handy chart:
– See more at: http://wemeantwell.com/#sthash.hAdu6xom.dpuf
The Contrary Perspective 
Reblogged this on Vox Populi.
“How bizarre that our supposedly modern democratic loving nation loves one and hates the other”.
That’s an odd thing to say: as far as I know, the US government loves both. It encourages both, funds both, supplies both with weapons, training and maintenance services, and definitely prefers them to modern secular, non-theocratic nations like Syria, Libya (as was) and Iraq (as was).
Exactly. It’s really quite a remarkable development, what with their Toyotas and black flags and social media. Wonder if they have any masterminds? The Pentagon and C.I.A. got it covered.
Look, they are mercenaries, plain and simple. They are intelligence agency tools. The endgame is Syria.
I wrote “the US government loves both” because, as far as I can see, no one else in the USA could give a primate’s fundament about the Near East or anyone in it.
Reblogged this on The Secular Jurist and commented:
I would add that both the Islamic State (ISIS) and Saudi Arabia are Sunni Muslim, and that they both are opposed to the Shiite Muslim regimes in Iran, Iraq, and Syria (Alawite). Middle East turmoil has fundamentally shifted from a geopolitical to a sectarian conflict following the failure of the Arab Spring.