'Umm... Err...': Brutally Long Silence by Top US Diplomat Speaks Volumes About Saudi Democracy

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Published by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/06/2017 - 3:55am

Common Dreams staff

Sometimes a nearly 20-second pause by a top U.S. official reveals much more than words could about the troubling lack of democracy in Saudi Arabia and the special relationship the United States retains with the repressive Gulf monarchy.

Recently returned from an overseas trip with President Donald Trump, Acting Assistant Secretary of State Stuart Jones was asked by a reporter on Tuesday about remarks made by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when in Riyadh. But Jones' answer was more telling for what he couldn't say than what he ultimately managed to come up with.

Watch: