3) The Gulf States recognize what Michael Hudson calls “THE GREAT ENABLING FICTION IS GONE”
Note: I wanted to post this open letter from Al Habtoor to Trump as a standalone piece, although it has been quoted by Michael Hudson and I see it throughout the commentary on the War on Iran. It is very widely distributed. I would ask kindly that you don’t send me 16+ emails torridly warning me that the UAE is a US satrap and not reliable. We know that.
This is exactly what makes this letter so striking.
Yesterday there was a small comment from the Saudi’s that some strikes may not be Iranian strikes. They did not say so directly, but the subtext clearly is that the USRael is striking their Gulf ‘partners’ in order to blame Iran – false flag strikes. This is now spreading like wildfire and again, The Great Enabling Fiction that the USRael will protect the Gulf States is gone, no matter how many bags of money or airplanes the region gifted to the US. There also is media that the USRael is now selecting only certain Iranian strikes to use defensive missiles for, and they are selling their ‘partners’ down the river, as they are not ‘protecting’ them. We hope that this realization teaches the Gulf countries the lesson but it remains to be seen.
There was another short piece yesterday that I have not been able to source fully. Apparently the Gulf States approached Iran, promised to refrain from any oil business for two months, if Iran would promise to stop shooting. Anyone that can find this again, please post in the comments.
Foreign Policy – Persian Gulf countries have lost faith in the US’s ability and willingness to defend them — Foreign Policy
Iran’s war of attrition is beginning to show effect
Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are thinking about possibly pulling away (force majeure) from US investments after heavy damages from Iranian attacks.
Al Habtoor’s not some random critic. He’s establishment. Connected. When UAE elites start publicly questioning Trump’s decision-making, that’s America’s closest Arab allies saying: “we didn’t sign up for this.”
Prominent UAE billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor just published an open letter to Trump. It’s brutal.”Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? Who gave you permission to turn our region into a battlefield?” Al Habtoor’s a major figure: billionaire, former diplomat, outspoken political voice in the Gulf. When he talks, UAE leadership’s listening. His questions:
* Was this your decision or Netanyahu’s pressure?
* Did you calculate collateral damage before firing?
* You placed GCC countries at the heart of danger they didn’t choose
* Your “Board of Peace” initiatives were funded by Gulf states. Now we’re getting attacked. Where did that money go?
* You promised no wars. You’ve conducted operations in 7 countries: Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria, Syria, Iran, Venezuela
658 airstrikes in your first year back = Biden’s entire term (which you criticized) War costs $40-65 billion for operations, possibly $210 billion total
* Your approval rating’s down 9% in 400 days
* Americans were promised peace. They’re getting war funded by their taxes
The sharpest line: “Before the ink has dried on your Board of Peace initiative, we find ourselves facing military escalation that endangers the entire region. So where did those initiatives go?”
—
Al Habtoor’s not some random critic. He’s establishment. Connected. When UAE elites start publicly questioning Trump’s decision-making, that’s America’s closest Arab allies saying: “we didn’t sign up for this.” The letter ends: “True leadership is not measured by war decisions, but by wisdom, respect for others, and pushing toward achieving peace.”