Jason Rezaian wrote an opinion piece that sounded the alarm about Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, and I get where he’s coming from. But while Jason raises some legitimate concerns — especially about human rights, accountability, and the uneasy symbolism of the whole thing — I think there’s a more balanced way to look at it.

Let’s talk about that.

Jason’s right bout one thing: MBS has baggage. A lot of baggage. Journalists imprisoned, critics silenced, the Yemen war, and that murder everyone knows about but nobody likes to mention during polite conversation.

So yes, Jason’s moral concerns are valid. The Bible reminds us, “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely” (Proverbs 10:9). MBS isn’t exactly the poster child for upright walking.

But acknowledging MBS’s wrongdoing doesn’t mean diplomacy with Saudi Arabia suddenly becomes optional. This isn’t a world where you get to choose your international partners the way you choose Bible study groups.

Jason treats the engagement itself like a reward, as though merely showing up in Washington is equivalent to being absolved. But diplomacy isn’t absolution; it’s negotiation. It’s leverage. It’s sometimes the world’s most awkward dinner meeting.

And let’s be clear: every administration — Republican and Democrat— has worked with questionable foreign leaders when the stakes were high enough.

So, blaming today’s engagement on one moment or one administration oversimplifies a complex problem that has been decades in the making.

Engagement is not a free pass. It’s more like one of those awkward family meetings where everyone knows Uncle Larry has Issues, but you still need to discuss who’s bringing the turkey to Thanksgiving.

President Trump isn’t naïve about MBS. Nobody in Washington is. The question isn’t whether MBS is flawed. It’s whether the U.S. can afford not to engage with the man who will likely rule Saudi Arabia for decades.

Ignoring him won’t make the problems go away. It’ll just ensure someone else — probably China — fills the vacuum.

America has interests in the Middle East that can’t be managed from the moral high ground alone. Yes, we must stand for human rights. But we also must prevent geopolitical chaos.

It’s not hypocrisy to face reality; it’s wisdom. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Wise as serpents. Not oblivious or idealistic.

So, Jason is right to warn about the dangers of blindly embracing MBS. But the answer isn’t to shut the door; it’s to keep the door open with conditions and clarity.

Here’s what responsible engagement looks like:

• Press for genuine human-rights improvements.
• Demand accountability for past actions.
• Tie cooperation to real, measurable progress.
• Communicate clearly that friendship does not replace responsibility.

Engage the man. Don’t trust him blindly.

Jason’s fears are understandable. MBS is complicated, controversial, and dangerous. But engagement is not endorsement. It’s strategic necessity.

We shouldn’t pretend MBS is a harmless reformer. But we also shouldn’t pretend that isolating him makes the world safer. It doesn’t.

So yes, MBS came to Washington. But the answer isn’t to panic. It’s to negotiate from strength, uphold our values, and keep our eyes open.