Trump's visit to the Middle East has unleashed great anti-democratic, pro-Zionism forces: British scholar

"The terrorism is hitting everywhere -- from London to Australia -- and, today, there have been attacks at the Tehran Parliament and the Centre of Honor and Integrity (Imam Khomeini's mausoleum). There must be an immediate reversal of USA and UK foreign policy and the overthrow of the cruel, barbaric WAHHABBI regime of Saudi Arabia. Until that regime is ended the whole world is going to be attacked”, professor Rodney Shakespeare told Basirat on Wednesday.

Prof. Rodney Shakespeare is a renowned political commentator and visiting professor of binary economics at Trisakti University in Jakarta, Indonesia. A co-founder of the Global Justice Movement, Shakespeare is a member of the Christian Council for Monetary Justice. Mr. Shakespeare has written several articles on the Middle East affairs, with a special focus on Iran, Bahrain and Syria. His latest book "The Modern Universal Paradigm" was published in 2007 by the Trisakti University publications.

The following is the full text of the interview:

Basirat: As many experts say human rights situation in Saudi Arabia isn't good at all. The country has remained a member of the United Nations human rights council despite making extensive use of the death penalty and carrying out dozens of public executions. It is just one of several human rights violations in a country where women face discrimination both in law and practice and those from the Shia minority have limited access to government services and employment. What is your view about this situation? Why do the UN, US and other powers support Saudi in this path?

Shakespeare: The foreign policy of the USA and UK is controlled by two forces -- a) the financial interests of a small group who benefit from arms sales and b) Zionism which wants to suppress all truly democratic movements in the Middle East so that there is no effective opposition to the expansion of Israel into the lands of others.

There is an Axis of Evil consisting of the USA, Saudi and Israel with support from the UK. The policy of the Axis is anti-democratic and intent on smashing all independent Middle East states capable of resisting Israel.

In this matter there is no limit to the hypocrisy and lies of USA, UK, Israel and Saudi Arabia. And it is getting worse -- Trump's visit to the Middle East has unleashed great anti-democratic, pro-Zionism forces.

Basirat: Another issue is the supporting of US. Analysts believe the United States has never considered human rights criteria in its foreign policy, adding that Washington’s sale of smart bombs to Saudi Arabia is a continuation of an immoral kind of policy position. As we saw recently in Riyadh; where Trump and Arab leaders signed a huge arms sale deal. What do you think? Kindly explain.

Shakespeare: The answer above explains the arm sales and the anti-democracy, but it does not set out the huge implication of the Trump visit to the Middle East which is that the green light has been given for the worldwide expansion of Saudi Daesh/ISIL terrorism which is being supported by the USA, Israel and the UK.

The terrorism is hitting everywhere -- from London to Australia -- and, today, there have been attacks at the Tehran Parliament and the Centre of Honour and Integrity (Imam Khomeini's mausoleum).

There must be an immediate reversal of USA and UK foreign policy AND the overthrow of the cruel, barbaric WAHHABBI regime of Saudi Arabia. Until that regime is ended the whole world is going to be attacked.

NB The crux of the matter is that Wahhabism leads a man to believe that if he kills a woman, a child, a Christian or another Muslim, he will be welcomed by Allah in Heaven.

Basirat: A longstanding war of words between Saudi Arabia and its oil and gas-rich neighbor Qatar has just exploded into open diplomatic warfare, threatening the US influence in the Middle East and setting off a new wave of instability in the region. In your opinion, what are the reasons and consequences of this event?

Shakespeare: Qatar is not a saintly place and there is a big question mark over some of its foreign policy.

But the blockade (by Saudi Arabia) of Qatar is the result of the green light being given to Saudi by the Trump visit to the Middle East. Qatar has had an independent foreign policy (it co-operates with Iran, for example) and, in the cause of further spreading head-chopping throat-slitting and suicide-vest Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia is embarked on a hugely aggressive policy (which is likely to lead to the military occupation of Qatar with the USA and UK doing nothing to stop it).

Evil is now rampant in the world and Europe had better act quickly or it will be too late. Russia, China, Iran and -- touch wood -- Europe are our only hope of stopping the madness which has been unleashed by the visit of a demented clown (Trump) to the Middle East.