Job Discussion Forums

[blackwellben]

While public opinion is hardly a major factor in Saudi foreign policy decisions, on the break with Syria the King was following, not leading, his people.
The Saudi media and Saudi-owned pan-Arab media has been vehemently opposed to Asad's crackdown and sympathetic to the protestors.
--F. Gregory Gause, III teaches political science at the University of Vermont and is the author of The International Politics of the Persian Gulf (Cambridge University Press, 2010).
http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/08/09/is_saudi_arabia_really_counter_revolutionary

[JohnRambo]

I can explain this.

1)Saudi Arabia is a Sunni country and in a hawkish manner.

2)Syria has links to Iran; that displeases Saudi Arabia which feels threatened by Shiite Iran and the Alawite minority in Syria has a lot of power; the vast majority of the victims are Sunni Muslims.

3)Syria was accused along with Hezbollah with having a role in the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al Hariri. Al Hariri made his fortune in Saudi Arabia. He was well liked by the Saudi royal family.

4)Turkey has been increasing pressure on Syria and so has the U.S.

It's not about a revolution for the Saudi government, but a Syria that is killing many Sunnis, is too close to Iran, and too close to a Hezbollah that has been bullying Sunni Lebanese.

[johnslat]

Saudi? Counter-revolutionary?

Most, I think, would call the Kingdom revolting

OK, seriously - good analysis, JohnRambo.

Regards,
John