Though as home to the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet Bahrain has considerable value to the West in and of itself, the real fear amongst many was that if the island nation’s Shi’ite majority gained steam in its demands for reforms, neighboring Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be far behind.
That fear appears to be coming to pass tonight, as the Shi’ite population of eastern Saudi Arabia is now also seeking the basic human rights that have long been denied to them. The rallies are small, so far, just a few hundred people, but as we have seen across the region, such protests can grow quickly.
Saudi Arabia has many of the same issues as the rest of the region, rising unemployment, rising food prices, and a brutal regime, and the combination of long-standing sectarian unrest could make it a prime target for another uprising.
At the same time, Saudi King Abdullah has pledged some $10.7 billion in additional spending on housing and has promised more money on social spending in an attempt to buy his way out of the crisis. Whether it will work there or not remains to be seen, but given the Bahraini King tried overt bribery to quiet the protests there and failed, it seems far from a sure thing.
If only the American supported "Royal Family"in Saudi Arabia is toppled then peace will return to the Middle East.
Please remember that Bin Laden and most of the people accused of 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia
This has been a long time coming, but I seriously doubt the Saudi's will go quietly. It's gonna get ugly. With any luck the Arabians will suceed in throwing the despots out. After that happens, my questions are:
1. If the Saudi's fall, what will become of their vast dollar fortunes?
2. Will the new Arabian govt still trade oil in Dollars?
3. How many times will Netanyahu have soiled his underwear while watching events unfold on Al Jazeera?
4. How likely is American Intervention during the Fall of the House of Saud?
I raise my glass to all the people of the middle east who are working towards a future of Liberty, Equality, and Peace. Your words and actions today will resound throughout the decades to come, inspiring and motivating people across the globe.
The Saudis should accept the 10.7 billion and then turn around and throw out the tyrants.
Reforms in saudia is a must. More than 100 years the kingdom has been ruled by the brutal kings by the name of Islam. They spread and finance terrorism all over the world by spreading Wahabism and giving bad name to Islam, the true religion for peace and harmony. I pray for the revolutionist that they succeed in their mission and the dogs on bones of America and Britian must meet their destiny.