[swarthyguy]

Many of the "reformers" are jihadis who feel the Royals are not islamic enough.

This points to a severe weakness in our Democracy for the Arabs strategy; increasing democratisation will IMO, result not in western style liberals coming to the fore, but rather jihadis who would demand an increased sharia state.
Rational people may well ask, how much more?

On the bright side, liberalising under US pressure, could very well cause the same reaction that happened in Iran.
Sorta like a dam, once that initial crack occurs, watch out.

Since we won't explicity go after the Saudis, perhaps this misguided strategy of encouraging liberalistion is the best hope for a meltdown in the Tragic Kingdom.

Whatever the help, and it is significant, that the Saudis have offered in the past 60 year US alliance, was negated by the Attacks on America.

Now how long can the Oil Companies and their defence contractor and assorted politically connected buddies, shore up what may very well be a Potemkin Village type facade of the current Saudi state? Who knows, but history shows that sometimes just a little loosening up of the chains on a people is the worst thing a totalitarian, reactionary regime can do. Inshallah!

Just as a sidebar, what if the Iran Contra affair was a Saudi inspired leak to the Beirut rag that leaked the story in order to stop the Americans from getting closer to the Iranians......

[Uncle Miltie]

If Islamofascists held a coup in SA, we would have a perfectly clear enemy to destroy...Hiding behind the Prince's skirts makes them much harder to find.