Heard the one about the Saudi and the American who met in a desert town?

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL May 22, 2017

A Saudi and an American meet in a desert town.

The Arab tells the American “Syria too used to be one of the most advanced countries. We used to get our professors from Syria. They served our kingdom. Unfortunately, they too brought destruction to their own country. You could destroy a country in mere seconds, but it takes a lot of effort.”

“Nah,” replies the American jamming his red baseball cap more securely on his head. “It’s easy to destroy a country. What’s the matter with you? Haven’t you been watching me do it?”

Okay, so I made the American’s words and actions up, but the Arab’s remarks are authentic. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman made those comments to US President Donald Trump when he met him in Riyadh on Saturday.

Was the King trying to tell Mr Trump something he didn’t want to put into words?

Some might say, the King’s remarks are significant considering he was meeting a polarizing American President with historically low popularity ratings and a cloud of scandals that trail after him like a bad smell.

Others might say the King was just making small talk.