Riyadh rethinks stance on ‘popular revolt’

[seafan]

Source: Financial Times

Saudi Arabia’s unequivocal support for Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian president, has shown signs of moderating as the kingdom seeks to appear neutral and closer to the public mood in Egypt, according to Saudi analysts.

“Saudi Arabia has recently begun to keep its distance from the situation in Egypt,’’ said a Saudi observer close to the government. “They realised the revolution is genuinely popular, with an Egyptian agenda. It was not incited by radical elements. It is not about foreign policy, US flag burning, or Palestine. It is about Egypt and they do not want to be seen as against the people.”

.....

But (Saudi analysts) also pointed to the more balanced coverage by the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television station of the turmoil in Egypt as another sign that rulers in the kingdom are starting to come to terms with the loss of a close ally. Some observers noted that at the start of the revolt the network had briefly tilted toward the Egyptian government, in line with King Abdullah’s strong support for Mr Mubarak.

.....

But Saudi observers also noted that the new Middle East now in the making could be radically different, with power struggles that may no longer take the form of pro-western Arab states versus Iran.

.....


Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/95d0ee5c-3541-11e0-aa6c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1DaK0t2qr

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History unfolding.


And the entrenched Washington establishment can only stand by, stunned, as one of the most autocratic regimes in the world is transformed, God willing, toward a government of, for and by the people.

[WheelWalker]

1. What you said. nt

[pampango]

2. Thank you, Obama for just "standing by" "as one of the most autocratic regimes in the world is

transformed..."

Something tells me that McCain (much less, God forbid, Palin) would not have just "stood by". He would have either taken forceful action to support Mubarak out of fear of the Muslim Brotherhood and other supposed boogey men. Or he would have decided at some point that the protesters had seized the initiative and endangered our national interests and he would have "taken control" of the situation and made the resolution all about "America coming to the rescue of the Egyptian people".

As it is the victory will be of, by and for the Egyptian people as it should.

[Arkana]

6. The more we intervene the more it will be seen

that we own the Egyptian revolution. It absolutely needs to remain sole property of the people.

[Initech]

3. The revolution *IS* being televised!

[martymar64]

4. I bet the House of Saud is scared shitless

Revolution in Egypt must have them peeing their pants in fear that the revolution will spread across the Red Sea and topple their cushy spot in Riyadh.

[Arkana]

5. Fuck Saudi Arabia.

Seriously, fuck Saudi Arabia. If I could ever get behind the carpet-bombing of a Middle Eastern country, it would be the godforsaken desert shithole that is Saudi Fucking Arabia and their 15th-century worldview.

[Javaman]

7. Government for and by the people...

the US will cut their arms sales to Egypt and instead sell them surveillance equipment.

We will show them how a real democracy works!