re: WaPo: Russia has invited TRUMP to Syrian Peace Talks

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I really don't care if you're pissed. I'm giving you my opinions based on my experience of 5 years of working in the region as a defense contractor. I pay attention to what my customers tell me... I'm no talking about foot soldiers, I'm talking about Brigadier's and crown Prince that are decision makers for the military.

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So no meat. got it.

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Personally, I'd prefer to have less deaths to our service members and a unified GCC/US alliance provide our best opportunity to meet that.

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If you want less death, then you should want us out of the GCC death cult.

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Get pissed off. You've offered nothing to refute and contradict me. I can only assume you think I'm some Hillary supporter blowing smoke. I'm not. I'm very much a trump supporter. But I can tell you without any fricking guess work on my part, any type of US military alliance with Iran will cause tremendous breakdown in cooperation with US and UAE and SA.

That is not a good scenario.

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You haven't made a case mr big shot defense contractor. You are using tautology to make your point. "America is great because it is good" "It is what is" "we need the alliances because we are allies"

I dont give two fricks what you did as a defense contractor and that you sucked off some qatari or saudi Prince for a defense contract. I definitely dont give a frick what "Brigadier's" you know. I give even less of a shite about who you voted for.

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any type of US military alliance with Iran will cause tremendous breakdown in cooperation with US and UAE and SA.

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So. fricking. What. explain why the frick I care. you worked strategic and operational level, no? So fricking explain the "So What" . That's strategy 101.

If you can explain why you think it's important, I'll give you a 2,000 word rebuttal. Be warned though, I've never sucked off a Saudi prince, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

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And everyone saying, "frick Saudia Arabia"... and "I don't care"... well, I do care. I am the proud father of a US Marine. He joined to protect this country and follow his Commander in Chief. I'd prefer, if he goes into battle, it is because of wise military decisions and not poor political ones -- too many of our good men and women have died due to poor political decisions in the past 8 years. Unfortunately, we will never abandon the Middle East. The rest of the world will pull us, kicking and screaming (if necessary), into any conflict in that region -- weather we want to be there or not. That's just the world we live in now. So if we're going to be there, wouldn't you rather less chance of extreme conflict?

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I don't know what to say to this.

Best of luck to your son.

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too many of our good men and women have died due to poor political decisions in the past 8 years

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What about the 8 years previous to this period? Did good Americans die because good political decisions were made?

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What about the 8 years previous to this period? Did good Americans die because good political decisions were made?

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I think everyone on this board is in agreement that a lot of good Amercans died due to Bush's poor decisions.

My ex Girlfriends dad was a retired 2 star General who became a Saudi military Consultant for the royal family. He was given 2 diamond studded Rolexes with the Saudi Royal family crest on the face. I seent them. Did you get those also? If not...stand down soldier cause you starting to piss me off too.

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My ex Girlfriends dad was a retired 2 star General who became a Saudi military Consultant for the royal family. He was given 2 diamond studded Rolexes with the Saudi Royal family crest on the face. I seent them. Did you get those also? If not...stand down soldier cause you starting to piss me off too.

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how about a dialog where you explain to me why my opinion is wrong? I'm curious -- and I'm open to listening to people with other opinions and experiences than what I have -- that's why I'm on this forum. I usually can do that without personal attacks.

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Fair enough. If you do this:

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"the reason we need to ally with Saudi Arabia is *your answer here*. If Saudi and the us break the alliance *insert consequence here*. The reason this consequence is bad for the US is *Insert analysis here*"

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I'll have a debate with you on this subject.

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Fair enough. If you do this:
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"the reason we need to ally with Saudi Arabia is *your answer here*. If Saudi and the us break the alliance *insert consequence here*. The reason this consequence is bad for the US is *Insert analysis here*"

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Dude. Seriously, where have you been? I've said this several times. It saves American lives. We will never divest - politically, militarily, economically - from the ME. Too many of our true Allies will force our hand as a world power. So my basis is simple -- what allows for less violence where Americans are involved?

Well - seeing how SA owes a shite ton of money to UAE, I suspect they are tied at the hip. Seeing how no King over there wants to go the way of Egypt or Syria leadership has -- they will do everything to remain in power. The way they keep their citizens happy is through straight up financial incentives. After the uprising in Egypt, there was considerable amount of citizen unrest in SA. The Saudi King was unable to finance payments to SA citizens -- so the UAE King/President stepped in and gave SA over a Billion dollar payment, which was immediately given to the citizens. This did two things -- it stopped the un-rest inside of SA and it strengthen what was already strong ties between UAE/SA. SA is now pledged to protect UAE from any aggression (primary concern is Iran, as Iran has already seized Abu Musa which still has UAE rulers pissed).

Why is all that random gibberish relevant? Because the US currently has military bases in both SA and UAE. We run substantial operations out of both areas (and other countries in the region) in effort to protect yeman and jordan from ISIS threat. Iran has been a threat to both SA and UAE for decades. If the US loses the UAE/SA alliance, then our presence will diminish out of necessity. That immediately strengthens Iran's position in the region. I don't know who will fire the first shot, but violence will break out between Iran and SA/UAE. Russia will immediately provide aide to Iran. At this point, the US will get pulled into the conflict by our European allies who will still have extensive presence in the region and will want to eliminate/fight any Russian involvement. As General Mattis said in his confirmation hearing, Russia is our greatest threat at this time. It is my belief that their involvement in the ME is the primary emerging threat to US/Russia relations.

That extensive chaos will cause a much bigger body count. Make no mistake, I am in no way, shape, or form advocating that SA is a fantastic ally. I do not agree with their government, especially on it's treatment of its citizens. I'm merely of the belief that the alternative will be worse.

Again, these are my opinions.

One final note: make no doubt about it, if the US gets pulled into another full-scale action in the ME - China will start expanding their boundaries through force. They haven't been building islands in the South China Sea just for vacation destinations. They are expanding their military presence in the region for a reason - and that reason is opportunity. There is a reason that the US has committed providing over a billion dollars (could be off a bit on this amount as it has fluctuated the past 10 months) in military/foreign aid to Vietnam over the next few years. China is preparing for opportunity.

Again, these are my opinions. Obviously, I'm not a CIA analyst - slash - CNN reporter like you are. But I try to pay attention to the information I am exposed to on a regular basis.