Saudis more concerned that Shi’ites may get nukes than that the Jews actually have them
June 11, 2010 8:05 pm Foreign Policy, Islam and the WestWhat other interpretation can you give to the following item?
“Saudi Arabia has conducted tests to stand down its air defences to enable Israeli jets to make a bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities, The Times can reveal.
“In the week that the UN Security Council imposed a new round of sanctions on Tehran, defence sources in the Gulf say that Riyadh has agreed to allow Israel to use a narrow corridor of its airspace in the north of the country to shorten the distance for a bombing run on Iran. To ensure the Israeli bombers pass unmolested, Riyadh has carried out tests to make certain its own jets are not scrambled and missile defence systems not activated. Once the Israelis are through, the kingdom’s air defences will return to full alert.”
Whatever you may think of the Saudi royal family, they at least can tell who the wackos are in their neighbourhood, and it is not Israel, which they know already possess nukes sufficient to turn Mecca and Medina into glass. The heirs of Mohammed, the guardians of the Hejaz, and of the sacred places of Islam, are making themselves as agreeable as possible to the needs of the Israeli Air Force on its way to bomb Iran.
Does this not tell you something very deep about the real constitution of the world? Does this not say that the Sunnis fear and loathe the Shi’ites more than they do the Jews, and by a long mile?
(Apologies to the over-sensitive for referring to the Israelis as the Jews, but we have to consider the issue from an Islamic and not from a liberal point of view).
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Dalwhinnie
Powell Lucas :
Date: June 11, 2010 @ 8:45 PM
If the Saudis hadn’t been the big financiers behind the Wahhabist version of Islam they wouldn’t have to worry about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It looks good on the Saudis that they are scared; if you f***k with the bull, you get the horn.
HHe :
Date: June 11, 2010 @ 10:54 PM
This has less to do with religion than you may think. The origins of this stance lies in the centuries old hatred between Arabs and Persians. Islam is mixed in there somewhere but it has more to do with historical hatred towards the Persians.
alex :
Date: June 12, 2010 @ 1:10 AM
I think the royal family is simply smarter than their countrymen or clerics. The practical always trumps the ideological to those interested in experiencing the future.
Not sure about your bull there Powell. I suppose you mean to say that the Saudi’s do in fact understand what a madman with a nuke means for them.
real conservative :
Date: June 12, 2010 @ 12:27 PM
The royals in Saudia Arabia are not that popular amongst the people unfortunately.
Maxwell Wolf :
Date: June 12, 2010 @ 5:47 PM
HHe is bang on. Arabs vs. Persians is a significant part of this decision.
Dalwhinnie :
Date: June 13, 2010 @ 8:22 AM
I have no doubt that Persian versus Arab plays a huge part in this issue.Is this a question of race trumping religion? Think about it. Islam less powerful than racial feeling! Discuss, as they say in the classroom.
bill :
Date: June 24, 2010 @ 5:20 PM
Well if the saudi’s financed the wackos, the u.s. gave them some weapons too.The pakistanis weren’t much help either.
Certainly race is an issue here,as well as longstanding feuds.
Personally I would like to see a regime change in iran, the sooner the better.