As Iran weakens, questions grow over Mohammed bin Salman’s regional ambitions

Experts divided on whether Saudi Arabia's regional moves represent pragmatic adaptation or dangerous drift

Efrat Lachter / Fox News

 

As Iran weakens, a power vacuum is emerging across the Javed Ali, former senior official at the National Security Council and professor at the University of Michigan, told Fox News Digital that "Since Iran’s 1979 revolution, both Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence across the broader Muslim world. Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power in the kingdom has also introduced a markedly different vision from that of his predecessors."

Riyadh’s recent moves, from Yemen to Turkey, are fueling debate over whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s expanding regional role still aligns with U.S. interests. As part of that recalibration, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 9 that Turkey is seeking entry into the Saudi–Pakistan mutual defense pact signed four months earlier, according to people familiar with the talks. 

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said Saudi Arabia’s current trajectory must be viewed through years of accumulated frustration with U.S. policy.

"To be fair to MBS, previous U.S. administrations did not uphold their end of the bargain either," Rubin told Fox News Digital, pointing to..." Read more and see video here. 

Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton skip House depositions in Epstein investigation in letter to Comer

Josh Christenson / New York Post 

 

Former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton skipped their closed-door depositions before the House Oversight Committee regarding late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, forcing the panel’s GOP leader to begin contempt of Congress proceedings Tuesday.

“Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences,” the ex-first couple wrote to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), according to a letter first reported by the New York Times.

“For us, now is that time.”

Comer had warned he would begin proceedings to hold the Clintons in contempt if they did not appear to answer questions about their personal relationship with the deceased sex trafficker.

“Bill Clinton did not show up, and I think it’s important to note that this subpoena was voted on in a bipartisan manner by this committee,” he told reporters Tuesday. Read more, see photos and video here. 

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast

Here's the podcast of last nights LIVE radio broadcast where Craig and Diane discussed  'The "Donroe Doctrine"...Cuba or Bust'; The Minneapolis Domestic Terrorist Mom'; the massacre of Iranian protesters; and Trump vs. the Federal Reserve. Listen to it on our PodBean channel at https://rspradio1.podbean.com or on our Right Side Patriots website at website at https://rspradio1.com/?page_id=39 

A Simply Stated...in my opinion...Fact

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

 

Op-ed:

The “Donroe Doctrine”...Cuba or Bust

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

The article posted here is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

 

..After all, Maduro’s recent capture has effectively not only taken away Cuba’s closest ally, but it's much needed oil source as well, thus allowing the Cuba/Russia ties to grow even stronger, and hence geopolitically more dangerous to us.  

 

And so Russia will continue to provide Cuba with both vital economic supplies...including oil supplies...as well as military support as Cuba continues to face one of its worst economic crises since the 1950s. And in return Cuba will continue supplying Russia with strategic access and a geopolitical foothold in the Americas...a rebirth not unlike that of the “Cold War,” albeit somewhat more silent in rhetoric yet possibly more deadly in application.

 

This is exactly why Cuba must be dealt with either now or possibly in the not so distant future for application of rhetoric does at times tend to lead to military intervention. And I do not mean “limited military intervention” as was rightfully done in Venezuela, but intervention as in “boots on the ground” full-scale invasion, something both President Trump and the American people surely, at least at this point in time, do not want to see happen, especially with Cuba being so close to the U.S...Read entire article here.

US planning of military operation against Iran in 'advanced stages,' official says - report

US forces in the Middle East are ready for operations against Iran, as military plans move into advanced stages, an anonymous official told Al Jazeera.

JAMES GENN / THE JERUSALEM POST  

The US military's plans to conduct military operations against Iran are in "the advanced stages," an anonymous US official told Qatari-state-owned Al Jazeera on Monday.

The military options for an operation against the Islamic Republic are "being tailored to circumstances and developments," the official told the outlet. "Our forces in the Middle East are ready for any contingency, any mission, and to defend themselves and our interests."

These comments follow Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's weekend meeting with the Trump administration's Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss the ongoing protests across the Islamic Republic, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Axios earlier on Tuesday.

Araghchi "reached out" to Witkoff, the report claimed.

This, in turn, followed US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening to intervene in the protests, including not ruling out military force.

Here's the Trump Administration's Latest Salvo Against the Federal Reserve

Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet

 

With total certainty, this is going to rile up the political class and the liberal media. It will be viewed as overreach, and maybe it is, but we sort of got a preview of this when President Trump accused Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell of not being forthcoming about the cost of renovations to the central bank’s office. The president alleged gross mismanagement of the project last year. Now, the Justice Department has slapped Powell with a federal subpoena. He addressed this story last night (via NBC News): 

"Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Sunday that the Justice Department subpoenaed the central bank Friday with the threat of a criminal indictment, the latest move in a yearlong pressure campaign from the Trump administration. 

Powell said the threatened indictment related to his testimony before the Senate in June about the renovation of Federal Reserve office buildings. 

"No one—certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve—is above the law," Powell said. "But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure." Read more, see X and video here.