[blanknoone]

"This has sparked a debate over how to reconcile with al-Qaida and end this war."

I am surprised the conversation has not focused on this. The Saudis are not trying to fight AQ...they know they'd lose. They are trying to re-establish the old we-support-you-and-you-leave-us-in-power deal with AQ. The Saudis are trying to strike a deal. But AQ knows that they would win the struggle too....no deal.

[Bobby777]

that sounds EXACTLY what the House of Saud would try to do ...