Trump Announces the Normalization of Relations Between Israel and the United Arab Emirates

[mahatmakanejeeves]

REMARKS

Remarks by President Trump Announcing the Normalization of Relations Between Israel and the United Arab Emirates
FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: August 13, 2020

Oval Office

10:51 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. This is very important. This is a big event. And I want to just congratulate all of the people standing behind me because they have done an incredible job. This is something that hasn’t been done in more than 25 years.

{snip}

I want to thank the leaders of Israel and the UAE for their courage and for their leadership to forge this tremendous agreement. It will be known as the “Abraham Accord.” And I’d like to ask our ambassador, David Friedman, to please explain why we’re doing and calling it the “Abraham Accord.”

David.

AMBASSADOR FRIEDMAN: Thank you, Mr. President, and congratulations to you on brokering this historic peace agreement.

{snip}

THE PRESIDENT: It’s a great — great thing. I wanted it to be called the “Donald J. Trump Accord.” (Laughter.) But I didn’t think the press would understand that. I didn’t do that.

Avi, say a few words, please.

MR. BERKOWITZ: Thank you, Mr. President. It’s really been the honor of my life to work in your administration. I think this re- — reaffirms your commitment to Israel, to stability in the region.

It’s just a historic accomplishment, and it’s — it’s peace. Peace is a beautiful thing, and it’s something that everybody in the country should celebrate, I hope. And I’m just so honored to — to be here and to serve in your administration.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you’ve done a great job. And Jared has done a fantastic job. People don’t really understand the things that he’s able to do. He’s done a fantastic job on this. And you and your team — nobody else could have done it. I don’t think anybody else could have done it.

Jared, say a few words, please.

MR. KUSHNER: Thank you, Mr. President. And I would like to say that — I want to thank the President for his leadership on this historic peace effort.

{snip}

And what happened was, here — is we were able to achieve results that others were not able to achieve, and this will advance the region, and this will advance the whole world.

{snip}

Robert, would you say a few words please?

MR. O’BRIEN: Mr. President, thank you. The point I want to make, Mr. President: You inherited a Middle East that was a mess when you came to office, and this is one more historic step in bringing peace to the Middle East.

{snip}

So, you came in — you came into office with a region that was — that was really aflame, and you brought peace to that region, and there’s more to come. And so it’s an honor to be part of your team, Mr. President, and to serve under your leadership.

{snip}

MR. HOOK: Thank you, Mr. President. The Trump administration made history today. It’s been an honor to be a part of this team that Jared has led.

{snip}

MAJOR GENERAL CORREA: Yes, sir. As a — as a soldier who has been in every war since Desert Storm, it is an honor and a privilege for your leadership, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and Prime Minister Netanyahu to get to peace.

So, your vision and those leaders’ vision on what we can do in the future is just incredible. So, I would thank you, as a soldier.

{snip}

SECRETARY MNUCHIN: It’s a historic moment. Thank you for being — letting us all be part of this. It is really extraordinary. Nothing is more important than peace. This is an unbelievable moment.

THE PRESIDENT: So, which is easier: dealing with the Democrats or dealing with the Middle East? (Laughter.)

{snip}

MR. GREENWAY: Sir, it’s a privilege to serve in your administration. This is a remarkable achievement that’ll stand the test of time, and we look forward to the prosperity and the peace this brings the Middle East and the ways we’ll be able to leverage that for the United States’ national interest.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

MR. GREENWAY: So, it’s a privilege, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

MR. VANDROFF: And I would just echo what Rob said. It’s — thank you for the opportunity to be part — and especially, I want to thank Avi and the opportunity to serve in his negotiating team to do something so historic. That — thank you for this opportunity, Mr. President. This really changes the world.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you all very much. This is very exciting. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.

{snip}

THE PRESIDENT:

{snip}

You look at North Korea. Everybody said, including President Obama, that’s the biggest problem. Everybody said you’d be at war. Well, we’re not at war. It would have been a war if I wasn’t elected, if it was somebody else.

{snip}

Q Do you support annexation of Palestinian land by Israelis at this point?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’re talking to Israel about that right now, actually.

Q What about the snapback option on Iran? Do you support that?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, you really know you’re stuff, don’t you? (Laughter.) Well, we’re not going to talk to you about that. We’re going to work something out, and then we’ll talk after it’s completed. But it’ll be a very satisfactory —

Q Why now did they come to an agreement?

THE PRESIDENT: We’ve been working on this for a long time. It’s been a labor of love for a lot of the people in this room. And a lot of them love Israel, and a lot of them love the Middle East, and they love the countries that we’re talking about —

MAJOR GENERAL CORREA: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: — like UAE, as an example — standing right here. And it’s been a labor of love. They know it has to happen.

And I don’t want to be speaking too much about it, but if you look, what’s happened since I broke up that ridiculous Iran nuclear deal — money isn’t going to some horrible, horrible groups. And you haven’t seen the kind of terrorism that you saw before.

Now, I don’t like saying it, because all of a sudden, they’ll say, “We’ve got to do something.” But you know what? They’re not getting money because Iran isn’t giving money, and I appreciate that. But Iran is going through very difficult times, and I appreciate that.

And I’ll say this, and I can say it very publicly, that if I win the election, I will have a deal made with Iran within 30 days. They make a very fast deal. They’re dying to make a deal, but they’d much rather negotiate with Sleepy Joe Biden than with us.

Q Why haven’t you already done that, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: But we’ll — we’ll be having a deal made very, very quickly. But, you know, rightfully, they’re waiting until after the election because they would — there’s nothing China, Iran, Russia, all of them would like to see more than have Trump be defeated, where they could deal with Joe Biden, because that would be like a dream.

{snip}

THE PRESIDENT: There will be an official signing at the White House over the next few weeks. Okay?

And other than that, we’ll meet you at 5:30 or so, and we’ll talk, and we’ll actually take one of your questions. Okay? Thank you. Thank you everybody. (Applause.)

END

11:08 A.M. EDT

[OnDoutside]

1. Lol.

Two countries looking after their patsy...

[hatrack]

2. So?

So what?

[matt819]

5. That was my reaction as well

So?

Or, perhaps another way to phrase that - so what?

While Israel has been at loggerheads (or war of some kind) with most Arab states, I don't think there was any physical threat from either side of this agreement. Maybe it'll pave the way for more such agreements. Maybe not.

And, given that this is the trump administration, I would put money on the likelihood that there are loopholes and/or that it will fall apart, or that it's not quite how it is being presented. And, of course, we can't discount the likelihood that everyone involved in brokering this deal is pocketing tons of money via straight out corruption, or unpublicized side deals for trump/kushner real estate developments or Israeli/UAE funding the trumps/kushners. Remember, ETTD, and nothing is ever as it seems.

So, first, ho hum. And, second, can't wait for the investigations.

[blm]

3. My take. Putin told 2 of his crime families to make a temporary deal

that could be used for show by Trump in order for Putin to protect his control over the WH.

[klook]

4. "President caves to Palestinian terrorists"

“Congressional inquiry begins next week to determine whether nation’s chief executive is a secret Muslim.”

Oh, wait — sorry. Those would have been the headlines if Obama’s administration had done this.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. Trump Appointee: He Deserves The Nobel Peace

Inevitably

Trump Appointee: He Deserves The Nobel Peace Prize
August 13, 2020

Earlier today Trump went around the room in the Oval Office and forced Steve Mnuchin, Jared Kushner, Robert O’Brien and others to praise on him camera, after which they gathered in a circle around Trump’s desk and applauded him while he beamed. The North Korean judge awarded him the full ten points.

And now there’s this:

{snip}

[Aristus]

7. Yeah, because those two kids were in an Armageddon Death-Match

before Trump came along...

[DTomlinson]

8. And no one who was paying attention was shocked.