Military Genius Mohammad Bin Salman Assures the US War on Iran Will Be Brief and Victorious

The bonesaw prince is the leading voice calling for an American war on the Persians

Saudi Arabia is eager for the United States to take military action against Iran in the expectation that it will lead to regime change in Tehran. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the leading hawk, has a disastrous track record in military affairs. The Saudis have called for an Arab summit in Mecca on May 30 to rally support against Iran.

The Saudi government-controlled and -directed press is openly pushing for “surgical strikes” by the United States against targets in Iran. One editorial said that such strikes are necessary because of the sabotage of Saudi oil tankers off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and the Houthis’ drone attacks on the east-west oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Both attacks are blamed on Iran; the Saudi leadership has publicly blamed Iran for the drones’ attack, saying the Houthis are Tehran’s puppets.

Other opinion pieces argue that the Iranians have a weak military that would be easily defeated by America’s forces, and that a military humiliation would lead to popular demonstrations and the end of the clerical regime. Under this theory, the Iranians’ allies, including Hezbollah, would also be destroyed in a war, although they would impose unprecedented damage on Israel in the process. The damage Iran and its allies would do to the Saudis and other gulf states is left unstated.

The crown prince was the driver behind the kingdom’s disastrous decision to go to war in Yemen over four years ago as defense minister. Then Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was skeptical about the decision but he was in poor health and was ignored by the king, who backed his son. The head of the Saudi National Guard was not consulted.

The result is an expensive quagmire for the kingdom and a humanitarian catastrophe for Yemen. A recent study commissioned by the United Nations estimates a quarter million Yemenis have died due to the war. The Houthis have brought Saudi cities and oil installations under fire. The drones used last week demonstrated a significant improvement in Houthi capabilities. The Iranians and Hezbollah have provided expertise and equipment to help the Zaydi Shiite rebels. But the Houthis are not Iranian pawns and make their own strategic decisions. Support for the Houthis is cheap for Iran.

The crown prince is eager to draw attention away from the Yemen imbroglio and his reckless decisions there. The war has become a public relations disaster for the Saudi prince in Europe and the United States. The Democrats are using it as a campaign issue in the 2020 elections.

Mohammed also wants to distract attention away from the premeditated murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The prince’s lame cover-up of his role in allegedly ordering the execution of the Washington Post columnist has collapsed. The US Congress is considering a bill to prevent those involved in the murder to be prohibited from getting a visa to come to the United States, an effective way to punish the mastermind.

The prince wants public and congressional attention to focus on Iran instead. But that seems unlikely. The press and the Hill are deeply skeptical about another war in the Middle East with a foe four times bigger than Iraq.

Traditionally Saudi Arabia has been risk averse and sought conflict avoidance. King Abdullah was very critical of Iran but was not supportive of military action. He deliberately obscured the Iranians’ role in the Khobar Towers terrorist attack to avoid war. [Actually that was not Iran.] He was against the Bush administration war with Iraq.

The Saudis are making pro forma statements against a regional war but it appears the palace wants a limited US military operation. The Mecca summit is likely to brand Iran as a terrorist state. Washington should be cooling tensions and talking sense to Riyadh. Instead, the president is threatening Iran with tweets which only encourage the Saudis’ reckless behavior.

Source: Al-Monitor

9 Comments
  1. […] Genius Mohammad Bin Salman Assures the US War on Iran Will Be Brief and Victorious by Bruce Reidel for Check Point […]

  2. Inferior says

    We should never ever underestimate the power of collective stupidity. But i won’t count MBS as stupid. I would count him very dangerous. He is a man who has absolute power not only in Saudi Arabia but also United Arab Emirates and few more client states who are often presented with generous gifts such as bailouts, latest being Pakistan awarded 20 billions. We have two faces of evil here united against Iran. One is led by MBD and second by Mr. MAGA yet both are doing the bidding of a man behind the curtain whom we all know however. Saudis would like to see Iran weaken not destroyed though. Like i have said previously, the goal is not obliteration of Iran but disintegration, fractured if you please so it can be handled more easily. But i would like to think that it is not going to happen as long as Iran keep its friendly ties Russia/China. As long as these factors in place there won’t be any war on Iran no matter whichever Dosg barks.

  3. CHUCKMAN says

    The “bonesaw prince.”

    An excellent nickname reminding us of how far the US and Israel, both embracing him tightly, will go to get what they want in the region.

    I don’t think that can be repeated enough.

    1. Nex says

      Hope he get what he wishes for.

      The US military empire is already running on fumes trying to be a paper tiger. Another US war on in the ME would mean the total dismantlement of the empire and Israhell along with it.

  4. thomas malthaus says

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/christian-girl-tells-her-parents-to-forgive-isis-after-she-is-burnt-alive-in-her-own-home-a7038611.html

    It’s possible forgiveness-specifically by Christians-is being institutionalized across Europe and elsewhere.

    I never thought they would meekly accept a caliphate, especially in Sweden.

  5. JHK says

    saudis and arab states (asides from Qatar) are apo states, they were born from apes and allied with those who also believe they were born from apes.

  6. Séamus Ó Néill says

    I would rate Bin Salman’s intelligence along with that of Bolton , Pompeo etc….bordering on par with a one celled amoeba either that or the criminally insane ! Does this war mongering head chopper, not realise that a war with Iran would also involve his little despotic regime and probably result in its destruction along with that of Israel. Oil would become impossible to move and the work shy lackeys in Saudi that depend on state handouts would get very restless…..be very careful what you wish for Mr Headchopper !

    1. Promitheas Apollonious says

      but that is what usa wants in case you have yet to realize it as is the only way for the oil they extract from fracking can be competitive price wise, even though is not of good quality to produce diesel still can save the few oil companies that extract it in US before they also bankrupt.

      What hold them back attacking Iran is the fact that they can not afford the price they pay of such a reckless act, that is bordering suicide, for nato as well israel, and all american bases within missile range of iran and allies.

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