Actually, I think you are both right.
Add MB (moslem brotherhood) to that Islamic mix in Syria, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia & generally the ME & N. Africa. Also, MB is a different ballgame to AQ; it operates differently, though, obviously, still Islamic.
End of the day, no matter what the differences between AQ, MB or Shia Islamic regime, theirs is about shifting loyalties based on political expediency that are situation specific. More importantly, what will always *unite* these Islamic grps (and sects) is & will be the shared fundamental theology i.e. ISLAM. And, for them, Islam is a very powerful bonding factor. Particularly against a *complete outsider* i.e. the West.
S. Arabia, despite its “official elite & policy makers” being rather chummy with western gov’ts, is no exception.
I’d say that unless the West has a contingency plan of sorts, it has to be careful w/ both its strategies & tactics of intervention in the ME & N. Africa (generally moslem countries). All the wheeling & dealing. Because, imho, the West is walking on eggs shells & on thin ice.
Some may think that by playing sunnis against shi’ites, for example, we are weakening them. But, it is also weakening the West - we’ll see that longer term.
eggs shells = eggshells