MBS forming a more explicit alliance with Israel would signal he truly feels he has no other options left to retain power. Given that he has apparently rejected coexistence with the Houthis, and he can’t beat them, it does seem only a matter of time before the alliance happens. But Israel also does not have the ability to smother Ansarallah, as had been already demonstrated. If MBS goes down swinging over a several year period, that’ll add substantial longterm premium to oil prices. Becoming obvious why the CIA was so unhappy with his internal coup that brought him to power.

On this foreign policy master point: One reporter basically said to Biden, look, two years ago, we asked if your sanctions policy was merely going to bring Russia and China much closer together rather than accomplish its goals. You assured us it wouldn’t. You were totally wrong. What new plan do you have to disrupt the bond between the two adversaries that you accidentally strengthened? He responded with garbled gibberish. And then we’re told he has a foreign affairs PhD.

Democrats used to pick candidates at the Democratic National Convention.