[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And this Wednesday, the 22-state Arab League will gather in a rather public display of unity against Iran, hosted by Saudi Arabia's ruler, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

[livius]

Interesting, but I doubt that the Saudis are trying to "curb violent Islam." They simply don't want to be taken over by Iran and see Iran become the major player in the ME.

I think our only chance of forming "alliances" with these people is based, not on their desire to do good and play nice, but on their mutual fear and hatred of each other. And even that is unpredictable, because every so often they remember that they all hate us even more.

[Marine_Uncle]

The mullahs continue to make very bad decisions. They isolated themselves to the extent even the Russians don't want to be their puppet master. The Russians at this point realize they can never take Iran over for it's warm water ports, only use Iran when appropriate against the west in general and attempt to re-balance power in the ME.
But the mullahs use the Russians as well. And the Russians get the short end of the stick, other then getting monies for weapon deliveries. The Russians probably fear oil/gas pipelines built from Iran and going north and east with some percent of control by Russia, could get blown up eventually and they would be out another few billion. Just like is now happening with the reactor deal.
The Chicoms likewise will stay quiet as churchmouses and just hope they can continue to get Iranian oil, and continue selling them weapon systems.
But the Mullahs put the ruskies and chicoms on the spot over and over again. Now like the eraser head, the russkies and chicoms have been put into a corner. They cannot openly support a hostile Iran.