Reply #38: as far as private funding from the Saudis- what your saying was probably true a few years ago

[Douglas Carpenter]

but the tide has turned on that. I can say from first hand knowledge that the official media turned dramatically anti-Hamas which is in part due to a belief as pointed out by Vegasaurus of an Iranian connection. Part due to a strong desire of the Royal family to position itself as a moderate on international issues and a supporter of the peace process between Israel and the Arab world. And part due to the strong pragmatism of King Abdullah which quickly became evident upon his ascension to the throne. And no doubt partly due to pressure from Washington and the international community and media. And part due to a dramatic loss of political influence wielded by the hardline fundamentalist Imams following September 11, 2001 and the subsequent Al-Qaida terrorism within the Kingdom. As a group the wealthy private interest in the Gulf tend strongly to be western educated and oriented, fiercely pragmatic and quite secular.