{"id":381497,"date":"2018-10-18T16:26:30","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T15:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/christian-leader-urges-viewers-to-cool-down-anti-saudi-rhetoric-and-protect-vital-arms-deals-rt-us-news\/"},"modified":"2018-10-18T16:26:30","modified_gmt":"2018-10-18T15:26:30","slug":"christian-leader-urges-viewers-to-cool-down-anti-saudi-rhetoric-and-protect-vital-arms-deals-rt-us-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/christian-leader-urges-viewers-to-cool-down-anti-saudi-rhetoric-and-protect-vital-arms-deals-rt-us-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian leader urges viewers to \u2018cool down\u2019 anti-Saudi rhetoric, and protect vital arms deals \u2014 RT US News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Evangelical leader Pat Robertson has urged viewers to \u201ccool down\u201d and give Saudi Arabia a pass on the apparent murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, arguing that the US\u2019 arms deals with the Kingdom are more important.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI just want to cool down the temper of those who are screaming blood for the Saudis,\u201d<\/em> Robertson said, speaking on Christian television show the 700 Club on Monday. \u201cThese people are key allies,\u201d<\/em> he continued, adding that sanctions and tough diplomacy would be a \u201cmistake.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Pat Robertson responds to reports that the Saudis murdered a journalist by telling everyone to calm down and focus on the important things, like the lucrative arms deal we have with them. pic.twitter.com\/06b7s3R6Xe<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) October 15, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Likely drawing inspiration from a previously unreleased version of the Bible in which Jesus loved tanks and cluster bombs, Robertson argued that the Saudis\u2019 Wahabi faith and views on human rights are \u201cobnoxious,\u201d<\/em> but the US\u2019 $110 billion arms deal with the Saudis is too important to risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be a lot of money coming to our coffers,\u201d<\/em> he said of the deal, \u201cand it\u2019s not something that you want to blow up willy-nilly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Robertson elaborated on his message on Tuesday, as State Secretary Mike Pompeo flew to Riyadh to question the Saudi government. Praising President Trump\u2019s cautious approach to the incident, Robertson argued that the disappearance of \u201cone journalist\u201d<\/em> shouldn\u2019t get in the way of US-Saudi partnership, especially against Iran.<\/p>\n