what’s not complicated is merely crass

[meliss]

Hi, what does the expression "what’s not complicated is merely crass" serve for? Why do not say just: "and Saddam was throwing around a lot of money"?
"Ideally, a dictator already known for bombing his own people and hell-bent on becoming a nuclear menace would be shunned by civilized nations. But geopolitics is a complicated business: Several Western powers, including the United States but most notably France, wanted to exert their own influence in the Middle East. And what’s not complicated is merely crass: Saddam was throwing around a lot of money."
Source: Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman.

 

[emsr2d2]

Before we reply, you need to provide the source and author of that quote. It's a legal requirement on this forum, due to strict copyright rules in the UK, where the forum is based.

 

[Tarheel]

Hi, what does the expression "what’s not complicated is merely crass" MEAN? Why NOT JUST SAY: "and Saddam was throwing around a lot of money"?

 

[meliss]

Before we reply, you need to provide the source and author of that quote. It's a legal requirement on this forum, due to strict copyright rules in the UK, where the forum is based.

Sorry, I forgot. I've been too hurried to put the question

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry, I forgot. I've added the source to post #1. I've been too hurried I was in a hurry to put when I posted the question.

See above. Remember that an emoji is not a substitute for a closing punctuation mark.

 

[Tarheel]

No details are provided, so I have to guess. International relations can certainly be complicated. As for "merely crass," that seems to refer to bribery.

 

[jutfrank]

First, is creates a contrastive cohesive link to the idea of being complicated: Saddam was throwing money around—unlike geopolitics, that's not complicated.

Second, it expresses the writer's opinion that Saddam's behaviour was crass.