this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2025
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Arab governments have been paying tributes for decades and hosting US troops all in exchange for the uncertain guarantee of not being turned into another Iraq or Libya. Any more extraction and the US risks them aligning with Russia or China instead. The mobs know that they shouldn’t bankrupt those who pay them protection money.
True, but $50 billion wouldn't break the bank for the Saudis. Moreover, Trump's recent actions show that he doesn't really care about anything more than 15 minutes in the future.
The Saudis maintain a welfare state that’s the source for their legitimacy. They can’t tighten the belt on their citizens. It will break more than just the bank.
How many private airplanes and yachts do the princes have?
They could cut down to seventeen harems each and still have enough to pay off Trump.
It wouldn't have to be a lump sum either.
Stock market manipulation or a similar scam would put the same amount in his pocket.
Aligning with China is looking cheaper by the day. It isn’t like Trump will be president for life, and even if, it isn’t like his dynasty will dominate US politics forever, and even if, it isn’t like the US will be mighty forever.
People keep talking about the American Empire falling.
Be careful what you wish for.
When the USSR fell there was a decade of genocide in Europe, followed by kleptocracy that makes the old KGB look sedate.
The US Navy has about a dozen nuclear aircraft carriers and three times as many nuclear subs.
The US used nukes and committed genocide even when it was rising, so doing so on the way out is characteristic. And no it doesn’t scare me, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.
You being scared or not really doesn't matter. If things go bad, your vote doesn't count.
When did my vote ever count?
Then stop whining!
[jk, it's the interwebs, whine all you want!]
When did I whine? I just stated why it doesn't make sense for Saudi Arabia to pay up increasingly extortionist tributes.
When did my vote ever count?
[just kidding]