[Destro]

The Saudis are cutting off the Chechen jihadis? Fear of the USA? Or Fear of what Russia is about to do with her oil prices? In any case some how once again the Russians have slugged their way into a bloody victory. My hope is that they don't betray the long term solution for a short term victory. Though to be fair to Russia, it is not like the USA is fighting a war against Islamic ruled nations and their sponsorship of the jihads (no matter what wishful thinking we have on FreeRepublic).

Hats off to Ivan for making the Saudi's eat their words. Just be careful because Muslims are allowed to lie to advance a jihad.

[Paleo Conservative]

Just be careful because Muslims are allowed to lie to advance a jihad.

Just like commies.

[Brian S]

Putin is a very, very wise character.

KGB blood flows threw his veins and he is intent, and will succeed, in rebuilding Russia to its superpower status.

Of course it won't be next year, but over, perhaps ten years, with it's oil and mineral wealth and with the "west's" addiction to it...it shall be done.

I don't fear a Russian "super-state" any longer. Socialism is socialism and we are quite on our way to matching them within twenty years. :/

[steveegg]

Sure sounds like the Saudis found someone else to pay for the Chechen war.

[txzman]

Probably because the Russians know how to play hardball - and Chechnya is a very touchy matter for Putin right now. The Saudis were probably told - 'touch this and lose your hand'.

[Destro]

bump

[Angelus Errare]

Abdullah may well have wised up due to the recent attempt by al-Qaeda to kill him. However, given that this is coming from a Saudi and may be intended for foreign rather than domestic consumption (remember how often al-Jubeir and Co denounce bin Laden here in the states). While Arab News is the sister site for al-Sharq al-Awsat, I have to wonder whether the Arabic text isn't markedly different from the English, as has occurred before.

[WOSG]

"Fear of the USA? "

Nah ... what lept in my mind immediately? OIL. They say a 'sudden intuition' is usually a good guess. :-)

"Just be careful because Muslims are allowed to lie to advance a jihad." yup... maybe they will call the West Bank an Israeli private matter? hmmm, Israel will need to discover oil under Tel Aviv first!!

[marron]

The Saudis can turn Chechnya on and off like a spigot.

My take is that the Saudis feel a cold wind blowing from our direction, especially since the fall of Baghdad and the exposure of some of their double dealing, and they are looking for a counter weight. Russia fills the bill.

Consequently they are willing to temporarily sacrifice Chechnya in order to knit the alliance.

From Putin's side, he gets victory in Chechnya, and an invitation into Saudi's oil industry, which could be worth billions, and all he has to do is promise to "consult" with them on oil pricing and lend them a sympathetic ear when we threaten them. Its almost too good to be true, from his point of view.

Of course, the oil projects may or may not actually happen, and the oil consultations almost certainly will not restrain Russian oil production. But when two double-dealers get together, what do you expect?

The key thing from our point of view is whether or not Russia begins to squeeze us in Central Asia. So far we are more-or-less partners with Russia there, and they are whole-heartedly expanding production there, in counterpoint to their policy at the beginning of the nineties of obstructing production.

The Saudis need to obstruct oil production outside of their control, which besides Iraq might include PKK attacks on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, or other trouble-making in Central Asia. If Russia begins to cooperate in some of this troublemaking, we have trouble. If not, then the Saudi-Russia alliance may not mean much. But I worry just the same; the Saudis are used to purchasing heads of state, and I don't know why Russia's generals and secret police and foreign ministers would be any harder to buy than our own. They may even be cheaper.

[goldstategop]

Ahhhh.... but Israelis suppressing Hamas, whom the Saudis' fund, is NOT Israel's internal matter. Go figure!

[Cindy]

INA TODAY.com - INTERNATIONAL NEWS ANALYSIS -- TODAY by Toby Westerman: "RUSSIAN -- SAUDI AXIS? "Joint Control" of World Oil Planned" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Moscow and Saudi Arabia "have agreed to jointly control the world price of oil," according to a recent report from the Voice of Russia World Service, the official broadcasting service of the Russian government. The statement came at the end of a four day state visit to Moscow by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the first official visit by a Saudi dignitary since 1932.") (September 8, 2003) (Read More...)

YAHOO! News - REUTERS PHOTO - Photo Caption: "Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) smile as they meet in Moscow, September 2, 2003. Abdullah arrived in Russia for the first visit by such a senior Saudi figure to discuss cooperation between the countries. REUTERS/Viktor Korotayev") (September 2, 2003) (View More...)