While national security hawks on both sides of the aisle vociferously condemn Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, they continue to remain mum on U.S. support of Saudi Arabia. This is despite the fact that several cables revealed U.S. concern over Saudi Arabia’s illict financial support of Islamic extremists, as well as Iraq’s fear that Saudi Arabia is destablizing the nation by funding a resurgent Al-Qaeda and other Sunni-related causes. Yet, there is little outcry from hawkish Democrats or tough-talking Republicans.
Instead, the U.S. inks a $60 billion weapons deal with the oil rich nation, the Saudi King is allowed to enter the US for medical tests, and our highest political leaders publicly praise the Saudis as staunch allies in the ‘War on Terror’. This is the same nation that many claim brutally oppresses Christianity and stifles gender equality. And, it was home to 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers.
As a result, I would argue that Saudi Arabia, not Julian Assange, is the bigger threat to US national security. U.S. support of a nation that funds dangerous terrorists and endangers US troops, as well as represents the antithesis of democracy, religious freedom, and gender equality should be viewed as the more glaring culprit.
So, while righteous indignation builds over the “treasonous” activities of Julian Assange, let’s not forget that the U.S. provides military, political, and economic support to an oppressive, terror-funding dictatorship.