Like you, I'm sure, I can't help noticing that the Arabian sands are shifting! For a start, ever since the handsome but definitely dodgy, 'MbH' (Mohammad bin Salman) took over as de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, matters have been on the move, not I hasten to add, just because of him but because of those damned "events, dear boy, events!" Perhaps the greatest and most unexpected 'event' is the fact that that America, God bless its fracking, oily feet, has become a major energy producer which has 'yuuuugely' reduced its reliance on Middle East oil. Thus, even in the heat of the Arabian desert, 'MbH' is feeling a cold chill!
Timing, as in sex and drumming and grand strategy, is everything, so it is unfortunate for Saudi Arabia that the dawning realisation of its slide in the ranks of power and influence comes just as their nutty neighbour, Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, who is himself feeling the pressure from an increasingly unhappy population, decides to follow the example of most dictators in that situation by inventing an enemy. Needless to say, the spurious differences in Islamic beliefs between Shia and Sunni is an 'ace in hand' to help him keep his 'peeps' fully behind him.
Then, to add that final touch of, er, ginger spice to the bubbling brew, way 'over there' we have President Trump - yeeeeeees, quite! As usual, he surprises by not, so far, rising to either Saudi appeals for support, or to Iranian provocations. Let us hope that he remains that way. Shia or Sunni, they are all fanatical loonies and best kept at arms length whilst simultaneously applying maximum economic pressures on both of them.
Well done, Mr. President, keep it up - no, no, not that, I mean your cool, calm policy!
It will at some point be necessary to knock off the present Iranian regime. But whilst Iran is getting weaker and the US is getting stronger it is best to wait, so as to strike with greater advantage, and make things less costly for everyone.
And by Iran getting weaker I do not merely mean the country having less power, but also the regime having less power within it.
Posted by: Pat | Wednesday, 02 October 2019 at 13:19
Oil Islam and Communism are roiling the world. More recently, populists have roiled the global ruling class by upsetting them with the Brexit Referendum and Trump's election. Islam Communism and Globalism. What a devil's mix.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 02 October 2019 at 13:36
Whatever Trump's other failings, in his nationalistic scheme of things regime change wars are a bad deal, at least for now.
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 02 October 2019 at 14:45
Agree with you this one Gaffer, for once!
A second Syria-grade Shia-Sunni ding-dong in the ME with the rest of us cheering from the sidelines would be good. Thin them out a bit, 30 Years War style. But the camel boys aren't up for it yet. The Mad Mullahs would have to nearly bleed to death before they lift a finger.
A latter day Lawrence of Arabia is what's needed to stir them up a bit: "No prisoners, noooooooooo prisoners!"
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Wednesday, 02 October 2019 at 18:33
https://twitter.com/drefanzor/status/1179156824559251456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In other news, Hillary's Yoga emails have just been released!
Posted by: JK | Wednesday, 02 October 2019 at 20:32
JK, that was mean. I looked!!
Posted by: Andra | Wednesday, 02 October 2019 at 22:01