Trump will discuss continued US ties with Arab nations: American author

"Trump together with rogue Arab leaders in Riyadh will discuss continued US ties with these nations, key to supporting its regional imperial aims. Another major purpose for his visit is finalizing an enormous Saudi weapons and munitions purchase, reportedly around $100 billion, for more regional mass slaughter and destruction, along with repressing anti-regime forces internally.” Stephen Lendman told the Basirat.

Stephen Lendman is an author, political analyst and radio host. He was awarded the Mexican Press Club's International Investigatory Journalism Award in 2011 in an awards ceremony televised throughout Latin America. His books, "How Wall Street Fleeces America" and "Banker Occupation" have since been published in China. He holds a BA from Harvard and an MBA from Wharton.

The following is the full text of the interview:

Basirat: Trump has flown to Saudi Arabia in the first overseas trip of his presidency. Analysts believe that Trump aims to tighten ties with Saudi Arabia on his first official stop overseas. Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S, said that it reinforces the solid diplomatic and national security ties between Washington and Riyadh going back decades. What is your thought? Kindly explain.

Lendman: US-Saudi relations began solidifying during the Franklin Roosevelt era - to get US access to its oil in return for Washington guaranteeing its security.

Saudi money is heavily involved in supporting ISIS and other regional terrorist groups, imperial foot soldiers Washington created.

Trump together with rogue Arab leaders in Riyadh will discuss continued US ties with these nations, key to supporting its regional imperial aims. Another major purpose for his visit is finalizing an enormous Saudi weapons and munitions purchase, reportedly around $100 billion, for more regional mass slaughter and destruction, along with repressing anti-regime forces internally.

Basirat: The Washington Post reports that the president divulged highly sensitive intelligencein a meeting with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador. Trump himself claimed the authority to share ‘‘facts pertaining to terrorism’’ and airline safety with Russia, saying in a pair of tweets he has ‘‘an absolute right’’ as president to do so. In your view, what is Trump's goals?

Lendman: The Washington Post is a virtual CIA house organ, its editorial content serving the agency’s interests, suppressing content it doesn’t want made public, publishing disinformation and fake news, not journalism the way it’s supposed to be.

The Trump story was fabricated. Putin offered Congress a transcript of what was discussed. The offer was declined. No classified information was discussed.

In an article I wrote, I suggested Russia knows more about facts pertaining to terrorism, etc. than Trump. Sergey Lavrov could have filled him in on details he likely doesn’t know. He delegated war making and other foreign policy to others.

His main goal is survival, given long knives in Washington out to get him. I believe Pence is in waiting to take over if called on, a dreadful character, bad enough to make Trump haters love him after the fact when it’s too late, if he’s ousted.

Basirat: President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, saying he'd lost confidence in his ability to manage the bureau. Donald Trump might have sealed the end of his presidency by firing former FBI chief James Comey, says a former US labor secretary, arguing that the Republican president’s move might amount to an "impeachable offense.” Why did President Donald Trump fire FBI Director James Comey? And what is the consequence for Trump's administration?

Lendman: Firing Comey isn’t an impeachable offense. Obstructing justice is, but no evidence so far suggests it, just baseless hyperbole by anti-Trump dark forces and supporting media scoundrels claiming it.

He’s in trouble, his presidency shaky. It’s Nixon all over again. He was forced to resign for the wrong reasons. Key was ending the Vietnam War America’s military/industrial/media complex wanted continued endlessly.

Trump is targeted for the wrong reasons, not the right ones, including at least rhetorically wanting improved relations with Russia - the kiss of death for any US politician, why Moscow was falsely accused of hacking the US election, and Trump falsely accused of improper ties to Russia. No credible evidence proves any of this.

Trump likely wanted his own man running the FBI, yet it doesn’t matter who’s in charge of any of US intelligence agencies. Their inner workings stay the same - supporting privilege against the general welfare, plotting mischief at home and abroad.

Basirat: Johan Galtung, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated sociologist who predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, warned in December 2016 that US global power would collapse under the Donald Trump administration. Recently the Republican Senator, John McCain attacks Trump administration and stated that Donald Trump’s administration is in "disarray”. What is your view?

Lendman: Trump chose a deplorable array of scoundrels for key administration posts. He’s an establishment figure creating the impression he’s not.

Who ever heard of a good guy billionaire? US policies are so extreme and destructive, I believe one day its imperial agenda will be doomed - like all previous empires in history because of unsustainable spending and overreach, making more enemies than allies, using sticks over carrots.

Russia and China operate entirely differently. They’re the rising powers while American power and influence are slowly waning.

It’s a long term process, I believe happening since the Vietnam era. It’s unrelated to what’s happening to Trump.

US imperial dominance is doomed eventually with a caveat. Nuclear war if launched changes everything. Then we’re all doomed.