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August 01, 2005
Analysis: 'Things Are Not as Calm as They Seem in Saudi Arabia'
Patrick Bishop notes in an August 2, 2005 opinion piece at Opinion.Telegraph that "Things are not as calm as they seem in the sands of Saudi Arabia." He raises many interesting points, among them: The West needs Saudi Arabia at least as much as Saudi Arabia needs the West. In the immediate term, the Saudi security authorities are a vital link in the anti-terrorist intelligence network. It is greatly to our advantage that Prince Turki al-Faisal, the outgoing ambassador to London, is on his way to Washington. As former chief of Saudi intelligence, Turki is credited with knowing more about al-Qa'eda than almost anyone outside its ranks. His arrival is expected to invigorate co-operation between Washington and Riyadh which has slackened as a result of America's Iraq preoccupation.
Mr. Bishop said, "In the long term, it is essential for us to retain the kingdom's goodwill as energy supplies become a pressing strategic issue, a source of increasing competition which some pessimists predict could lead to the next big international conflict."
Here is more of his thought-provoking analysis.
Posted by Munir Umrani at August 1, 2005 08:45 PM
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