Sorry, but trying to glean something good out of Trumps family dealmaking venture to the Middle East is wishful thinking. Whether we have active sanctions or not ( and I disagree with them being lifted) we are still on the sidelines with these countries. They will try to exploit us to get arms, which is something that we should not be doing period. Arming terrorist countries and corrupt dictatorships like Saudi Arabia is counterproductive and will always come back to haunt us when they are used to incur violence against another country. Legitimizing violent and repressive countries is not the way to go. Especially since Trumps administration will benefit personally from these deals. Trump did nothing good over there. He wants a shiny, gaudy, jet to use and that is why he went.
Any good that might accrue incidentally to Trump’s reputation is sullied considerably by the staggeringly remunerative real estate deals he has brokered in the region—billion$! I am glad the situation there may be somewhat defused, although many people have previously declared peace only to be disappointed again since the 1920s.
From a Syrian Canadian citizen whose family fled as refugees to Canada in 2015: His Alawite eztended family and other minorities have been targeted and witnessed murders by the "new leaders because they are not Sunni Muslims. Even so, the suffering caused by the US sanctions has been worse:
I am writing this post to thank all my Canadian contacts who showed lots of empathy toward my beloved home country, Syria, and more specific, my community, Alawite, and other minorities there whom subject to daily persecution from the de facto jihadist authorities, HTS.
In the last few days, it was super clear that HTS has lots of support from the western community, and that explains why the massacres against Alawite never made its way to western media. Myself, I don't mind whoever controls Syria. All what I wish is to stop the daily killing and kidnapping and forced displacement of Alawite there.
I am so happy that US is going to lift the economic sanctions on Syria. This brings hope for people there who suffered a lot form this sanctions.
I wish US can have enough power to enforce peace in Syria so minorities there can feel safe in their home.
My concern is about the visuals surrounding the Syria recognition. It appears that the Trump family profited handsomely by the decision. Zelda Hester said it correctly in her remarks here.
I spent two decades in the Persian Gulf area and, if history repeats as it usually does, the gift or sale of weapons to any government in that region will first be used on their enemies and then used against their own citizens and then wind up being bought by some random terrorist organization for use as they will.
It’s good to read the background for this rests on a previous foundation laid quietly by other more knowledgeable people. It clearly sends more of a signal than having diplomats meet to discuss a relationship…. But perhaps we don’t have that level of professionals in the wings now.
Sorry, but trying to glean something good out of Trumps family dealmaking venture to the Middle East is wishful thinking. Whether we have active sanctions or not ( and I disagree with them being lifted) we are still on the sidelines with these countries. They will try to exploit us to get arms, which is something that we should not be doing period. Arming terrorist countries and corrupt dictatorships like Saudi Arabia is counterproductive and will always come back to haunt us when they are used to incur violence against another country. Legitimizing violent and repressive countries is not the way to go. Especially since Trumps administration will benefit personally from these deals. Trump did nothing good over there. He wants a shiny, gaudy, jet to use and that is why he went.
Any good that might accrue incidentally to Trump’s reputation is sullied considerably by the staggeringly remunerative real estate deals he has brokered in the region—billion$! I am glad the situation there may be somewhat defused, although many people have previously declared peace only to be disappointed again since the 1920s.
From a Syrian Canadian citizen whose family fled as refugees to Canada in 2015: His Alawite eztended family and other minorities have been targeted and witnessed murders by the "new leaders because they are not Sunni Muslims. Even so, the suffering caused by the US sanctions has been worse:
I am writing this post to thank all my Canadian contacts who showed lots of empathy toward my beloved home country, Syria, and more specific, my community, Alawite, and other minorities there whom subject to daily persecution from the de facto jihadist authorities, HTS.
In the last few days, it was super clear that HTS has lots of support from the western community, and that explains why the massacres against Alawite never made its way to western media. Myself, I don't mind whoever controls Syria. All what I wish is to stop the daily killing and kidnapping and forced displacement of Alawite there.
I am so happy that US is going to lift the economic sanctions on Syria. This brings hope for people there who suffered a lot form this sanctions.
I wish US can have enough power to enforce peace in Syria so minorities there can feel safe in their home.
Thank you!
My concern is about the visuals surrounding the Syria recognition. It appears that the Trump family profited handsomely by the decision. Zelda Hester said it correctly in her remarks here.
I spent two decades in the Persian Gulf area and, if history repeats as it usually does, the gift or sale of weapons to any government in that region will first be used on their enemies and then used against their own citizens and then wind up being bought by some random terrorist organization for use as they will.
Never believe that tRump is doing the right thing for the right reason. There has to be a bribe or an expectation of a bribe in the offing.
It’s good to read the background for this rests on a previous foundation laid quietly by other more knowledgeable people. It clearly sends more of a signal than having diplomats meet to discuss a relationship…. But perhaps we don’t have that level of professionals in the wings now.
This only proves the adage that a broken clock is correct twice a day is true.