ISLAMABAD – For two years, the US President Donald Trump has been trying toundo several decisions and agreements made by his predecessor, Barak Obama,that have caused a lot of concern and distress in the Gulf region.
The Obama Administration was convinced that Iran will be the US peacepartner in the region. Therefore, the former US President used all hisabilities to push Tehran to the forefront, according to Jim Hanson, thePresident of the Security Studies Group link inWashington DC.
“Obama’s policy had really changed things for a lot of Gulf States whenthey see their enemy being empowered by the United States,” he added.
Riyadh was Trump’s first overseas destinationlinkfollowinghis inauguration in which, Hanson noted, he met with the world’s Muslimleaders. “He also met with King Salman and the Crown Prince to basicallytalk about how they could form a counterweight to what President Trump sawas Iran’s malign influence as opposed to Iran’s role as a partner forpeace,” he pointed out.
“This had completely upset the US media’s reflexive support for PresidentObama. Media outlets have a vested interest in the idea that Tehran was notthe bad guy and anything that jeopardizes the Iran deal was a problem.Therefore, they began their attacks,” Hanson told Al Arabiya English. Heemphasized that Khashoggi’s case was a lever the media used to attack Trumpand his Saudi allies, and to damage both of them at the same time.
Following the US President’s announcement,linkinwhich he stated that the CIA report “might” be true, without eitherconfirming or denying, Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmanwere targeted through a smear campaign which Hanson described as a“crusade,” due to the historical significance of the crusade which issimilar to what implies currently.
“The media attacks are hallmarks of a crusade. The US media has beenattempting to impose western ideas, western concerns, and desires on theKingdom of Saudi Arabia by deciding to depose a royal leader of anothersovereign nation. This is a crusade from my perspective,” he stressed.
Hanson, who was a member of the US Army Special Forces forcounter-terrorism and insurgency in more than a dozen countries,highlighted, to Al Arabiya English, that the CIA does not have evidencethat the Crown Prince is responsible for Khashoggi’s death. Otherwise, thepeople who leaked the CIA report certainly would mention it, if thatinformation really existed.
“The CIA report did not state that it has a proof that Mohammed bin Salmanhad ordered the killing. Instead, it said that it believes with highconfidence that the Crown Prince was responsible, because in a country likeSaudi Arabia, it is almost inconceivable that he would not have,” heemphasized, adding that the modernization steps taken by the Crown Princehave resulted in several internal enemies. – Al Arabiya