(Submission) Why-to criticize the conduct of the Iranian elections and Iran’s record on democracy, but never elections and democracy in Saudi Arabia:
Um. Uh. (Sigh) (Lip smack) (Pause) I think what—uh—we say is that—uh—at this meeting we were able to—uh—make significant progress with Saudi and GCC partners ins—uh—both making a strong statement against extremism and also—um—and also putting—e ah eh—putting in place certain measures through this GCC mechanism where we can combat extremism. Clearly one source of extremism—one sort—er—one—uh—terrorism threat is coming from Iran. (Pause) And that’s coming from a part of the Iranian apparatus that is not at all responsive to its electorate. (Pause) (Look off Stage Right) Ok thanks.
(Exit stage right)
About the Author:
Stuart E. Jones, a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, was appointed Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East Affairs Bureau on January 9, 2017. Ambassador Jones had previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State since October 3, 2016.
Acting Assistant Secretary Jones previously served as US Ambassador to Iraq from 2014-2016 and as Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 2011-2014.
Ambassador Jones has extensive experience in Iraq. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Baghdad in 2010-2011, Governorate Coordinator in Al Anbar Province in 2004, and Country Director for Iraq at the National Security Council.
From 2008-2010, Ambassador Jones also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Other foreign tours include Turkey, El Salvador and Colombia and he was Special Assistant to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright.
Ambassador Jones is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
To viewActing Assistant Secretary Jones’s why-to presentation, watch the video below:
Watch as Stuart Jones, a high-level acting official in the State Dept, is asked why they criticize Iranian elections but never Saudi Arabia: pic.twitter.com/RLkKGn48Z7
— Alex Emmons (@AlexanderEmmons) May 30, 2017
