Posted on 02/21/2011 5:27:26 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Back in 1995, when unrest last gripped Bahrain, the Saudis took a particularly strong interest in events across the border, nervous that the contagion of democracy might seep across into Saudi Arabia itself. At the time the Saudis went as far as to station special forces at key choke points, sending a message to the Shia majority in Bahrain that they had better not over-step the mark in their challenge to Sunni, one family rule.
The situation in Bahrain is far more serious now, as is the potential for a serious Saudi intervention to rescue the ruling Bahraini family and shore up the regime. Clearly the religious demographics at work there are of extreme interest to the House of Saud, as is the maintenance of the traditional rulers along its periphery. While Saudi Arabia seems unlikely to be about to experience the wave of protest that has burned its way across North Africa and the Middle East, despite being possibly the most totalitarian state in the region, the West now has some very serious thinking as to how it does business with the House of Saud in the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at bigthink.com ...
"Mark Seddon, the former United Nations Correspondent and New York Bureau Chief for Al-Jazeera English TV..."
"Mark Seddon, the former United Nations Correspondent and New York Bureau Chief for Al-Jazeera English TV..."
I might have to read Dune again.
Sorry, OT, I know.
I’m not looking forward to applying for a loan to buy a tank of gas.
I would bet on it.
IMO, the key to managing all the recent upheaval in the ME/North Africa & throughout the moslem world is:
Perception
Whoever does that most successfully will, at the end, win!
Well heck yeah they are! Where else can you go when you live in SA to get a beer?
;’)
I should have topped the tank yesterday when I was out and about.
:’)
I’m starting to think of doubling my 40 gallon gas supply (all in 5 gallon containers). It’s just starting to get a bit dangerous in my garage though.
Hey, as long as it’s detached.
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