FROM ICEJ NEWS: 
Obama defends US-Saudi Arabia ties during visit
Obama defends US-Saudi Arabia ties during visitUS President Barack Obama landed in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on a trip to pay respects to the recently deceased King Abdullah and hold confrontations with his successor, King Salman. Responding to criticism of American cooperation with Saudi Arabia given the Kingdom’s record on human rights and democracy, Obama told CNN “Sometimes we need to balance our need to speak to them about human rights issues with immediate concerns we have in terms of counter-terrorism or dealing with regional stability.” Several other past and present US officials accompanied the President on the visit, underscoring the high value Washington places on relations with Riyadh.
