By JM Rieger and John T. Bennett

In a rare move Monday, the Obama administration criticized the government of Saudi Arabia, with Press Secretary Josh Earnest saying mass executions that have generated anger across the Middle East are reflective of “a government that is not doing enough” to address concerns about its human rights record. “There’s no denying the United States has a much stronger and more effective relationship with Saudi Arabia than with Iran,” Earnest said. “But there’s also no denying that Saudi Arabia’s human rights record is something that has been a source of significant concern on the part of the Obama administration and previous administrations as well.”