Charles Krauthammer, "Obama’s foreign policy of denial": Saudi Arabia Repudiates the US

America's status around the world is in decline, and nowhere is this more obvious than in Saudi Arabia, which has now become blatantly hostile to the Obama administration.

Writing about Obama's "foreign policy weakness" in a Washington Post opinion piece entitled "Obama’s foreign policy of denial" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-obamas-foreign-policy-of-self-delusion/2014/05/01/3e17ad48-d16c-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html?hpid=z3), Charles Krauthammer specifically observes with regard to Saudi Arabia (my emphasis in red):

"Add to [the failure to reach a trade agreement with Japan and the termination of the Kerry-sponsored negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis] the collapse of not one but two Geneva conferences on Syria, American helplessness in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Saudi king’s humiliating dismissal of Obama within two hours of talks — no dinner — after Obama made a special 2,300-mile diversion from Europe to see him, and you have an impressive litany of serial embarrassments."

As further noted in a Washington Free Beacon article entitled "Saudi Arabia Shows Off Chinese Missiles" (http://freebeacon.com/national-security/saudi-arabia-shows-off-chinese-missiles/) by Bill Gertz:

"Saudi Arabia’s military for the first time displayed Chinese made intermediate-range missiles during a recent military parade in the kingdom.

The unveiling of the two Chinese DF-3 missiles is the latest sign that the oil-rich kingdom is distancing itself from the United States.

. . . .

The disclosure of the missiles follows a recent visit to China by Saudi defense officials who U.S. officials say are angered at the Obama administration over its policies toward Iran.

Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud traveled to Pakistan in February. U.S. officials said the visit was an indication that the Saudis are preparing to purchase Chinese-designed JF-17 combat jets from the Pakistanis.

Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Sultan also visited Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila fueling reports that the Saudi are buying the Chinese-Pakistani Al-Khalid tank.

The visit was viewed by U.S. officials as a clear indicator of Saudi anger at conciliatory Obama administration policies toward a deal with Iran on its nuclear program, and a perception in Riyadh that the United States is not supporting its friends."

A full blown war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, beyond the proxy wars they are waging in Yemen and Syria? The Saudis believe that Obama has encouraged Iranian efforts at achieving hegemony throughout the Middle East, i.e. facilitating a new balance of power in the region in which Iran is awarded greater standing, and a direct confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran is well on its way.