P!
The MSM, Reuters included, seem to WANT unrest to spread. However, in KSA it is important to say where the "protests," are taking place. If it is the perennial Shiite v Sunni Wahabbist nonsense in the NE of the country, forget about it, it is a pro-forma, Iranian-sponsored demo. That's where the oil is and those folks have it too good to be serious protesters. All it means is that they have too much time on their hands and are being whipped up by their bull-shiite imams at the daily prayer meetings.
My money and my best wishes are with the Sunnis, who as always, should be able to contain the Shiite demos with a minimum of damage. "Shots fired." Whoop-de-doo, left wing reporters. Call me when they hit someone.
Demos in Riyadh? OK, folks, demo over. Get back in the Toyota and continue your daily fast-food joint tour. The population growth for Saudi Nationals has been so rapid and so huge, that there really is a problem finding make-believe work for all of them, not that they seriously want that, and keeping up the massive social safety net that Saudi Nationals automatically receive.
The huge number of guest worker who are from Third World countries are horribly treated. If it is they who are in the mob, woe betide their sorry asses. The Saudis will have all the few survivors out on the next flight, and recruit new workers the next day.
Saudis do nothing for themselves, from the humblest municipal services to dry-cleaning or flipping burgers. They might be supervisors ... and they definitely control the money, but that's it. The Saudis are a little weird after 3 millenia of 1st cousin inbreeding, but even their lowest classes are not dumb enough to FU a free lunch.
The princes who run the country are also smart enough to shell out for that lunch, even if begrudgingly (I hope. Met some really dumb ones!) There are poor Saudis, but they do have free food, clothing, shelter, transport, medical care. Although there are sometimes no suitable brides for a lot of young men, most of them wind up with multiple wives at a time and dozens of children. In the meantime, if the local princes are sharp enough to notice, they support the mosque where these guys hang out. From their ranks come the al-qaida leaders and fighters, which the princes don't really mind because they don't do that at home! (We all hope!)
Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas. Any misguided Affirmative Action DC Anus who is entertaining thoughts of supporting the overthrow of this oil-producing feudal monarchy is crazier than a bomb-vested Shiite MF. Take out the House of Saud and I goron-tee you, you ain't gonna like what's next.