 StoneMtnMinis  | 03 Apr 2018 1:56 p.m. PST |
This is bound to cause some shock waves. link |
| Wherethestreetshavnoname | 03 Apr 2018 3:41 p.m. PST |
Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni, Iran is predominantly Shi'a. |
| Cacique Caribe | 03 Apr 2018 4:57 p.m. PST |
LOL. Well, that is certainly going to make a lot of religious fanatics call for a Jihad, to protect the holy sites in Arabia from the Israel-loving "apostates". And it's going to make a lot of key powerful people in the US very angry too. Ha! And those who think that all change must come via bloody revolutions and violent class wars. This is definitely going to get very interesting indeed. And Prince Mohammed bin Salman better double his bodyguard. Dan |
| Dn Jackson | 03 Apr 2018 5:07 p.m. PST |
Wow, that's a total change from just a few years ago. Makes me hold out a sliver of hope for an end to the Arab-Israeli wars. |
| 28mm Fanatik | 03 Apr 2018 8:17 p.m. PST |
I'll file this under "I'll believe it when I see it." Talk is cheap. Egypt and Israel made peace in the last century so it's definitely possible, though it cost Sadat his life and Egypt is more secular than most muslim states. |
| Winston Smith | 03 Apr 2018 8:22 p.m. PST |
How many "Crown Princes" have there been in the past 10 years?
It's not exactly a job with high retention.
But I'm wishing him well.
Hope he didn't make too many billionaire enemies lately. |
 The Beast Rampant | 03 Apr 2018 8:33 p.m. PST |
It's too late for April Fool's, right? Talk is cheap. Those are pretty damned pricey words for someone in his shoes. |
| Cacique Caribe | 03 Apr 2018 10:20 p.m. PST |
Beast I dunno about their shoes, but their toilets are golden. Dan |
| The Beast Rampant | 03 Apr 2018 10:42 p.m. PST |
Opulence can never reach ridiculous levels, right? The Saudis have been resting their weighty backsides on the political fence for decades. For him to say this- plain and outright, with examples and everything- is a huge step. Not rocking the boat has worked pretty well for them so far. I'd love to see a bit of altruism among the Arabic leadership. And one calling another out on pissing away (dirty) money on nothing Google Earth can spot gets a big thumbs up from me. |
 Patrick R | 04 Apr 2018 6:00 a.m. PST |
From what I understand his "reforms" are mainly aimed at cosying up with the US and build up alliances as it's clear that all hope to see Syria fall apart completely evaporated, Iran is quite close to getting nukes, the Saudi economy is teetering on the edge of the abyss and the religious crowd is starting to speak out openly against the House of Saud as being the latest big satan. Internal repression has reached levels that would make the Khmer Rouge blush and North Koreans feel grateful for the Kim family. Military spending has gone through the roof and the Saudi have been reinforcing their national guard so much they now seriously outgun the regular army. The Salafists have long been a thorn in the side and it seems they are going to attempt to use the threat of IS and AQ to break their power once and for all and push Sunni Islam in line with the leadership. But ironically both the ultra-religious and the crown prince seem to share the same basic idea, that the Middle-East is now on the verge of the great Sunni-Shi'a war and decide once and for all who remains standing. The Middle East is going to be an interesting place in the coming years and IS and AQ will seem like a joke in comparison of what may yet come … |
| Cacique Caribe | 04 Apr 2018 12:52 p.m. PST |
Patrick: "But ironically both the ultra-religious and the crown prince seem to share the same basic idea, that the Middle-East is now on the verge of the great Sunni-Shi'a war and decide once and for all who remains standing." Iranian sources seem to think this great confrontation is going to take place on or before 2030. I have no idea if that was an arbitrary date pulled out of a hat, or something that came from one of their ayatollahs. Dan |
| Winston Smith | 06 Apr 2018 1:29 p.m. PST |
If the North Koreans have nukes, then so does Iran. After all, Iran paid for the research and development. 
Just like Saudi Arabia bankrolled Pakistan's nukes. So, if needed, they're sitting at a Pakistani air base with special stickers on them. The only reason the Saudis or Iranians haven't used nukes, yet, is because they know the other side has them. |
| Lion in the Stars | 06 Apr 2018 4:58 p.m. PST |
About time the Muslims had their 30-Years War… (with attendant baggage of "it's OK to live and let live!") |
| Lost Wolf | 06 Apr 2018 7:33 p.m. PST |
Whoa! Next announcement will be Saudia Arabia allowing Christians in their land to have churches |
| USAFpilot | 07 Apr 2018 3:28 p.m. PST |
Just a few years ago women were not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. America has become energy independent and no longer needs Saudi oil. The world has changed and the Saudi leadership recognizes they need to change also if they are to survive. |
