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Jefferson23

(30,099 posts) Mon Apr 6, 2015, 08:18 AM Apr 2015

ISIS and What's at Stake for Saudi Arabia?

Madawi Al-Rasheed says the Saudis contend with ISIS to be the leaders of the Sunni world, but their interests converge as both regard Iran and the Shia as their enemy - April 5, 2015

Bio

Madawi Al-Rasheed is Visiting Professor at the Middle East Centre at The London School of Economics and Political Science. She is originally from Saudi Arabia and currently lives in London. Her research focuses on history, society, religion and politics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Her recent publications include A History of Saudi Arabia and A Most Masculine State .

Transcript

ISIS and What's at Stake for Saudi Arabia? (2/3)PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to the Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay.

Continuing our series of discussions, Madawi al-Rasheed. She joins us, again, from London. Thanks for joining us, Madawi.

MADAWI AL-RASHEED, PROF. MIDDLE EAST CENTER, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Thank you.

JAY: Once again, Madawi's a visiting professor at the Middle East Center at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

So in part one of this interview series, we talked about the Saudi stakes in Yemen. But as most countries, domestic politics sometimes is the most important determining factor about external policy. So today we're going to talk a little bit more about the situation in Saudi Arabia.

First of all, let's talk about the Shia in Saudi Arabia. First of all, as you mentioned in part one, the Saudis have incurred a couple of times actually in Bahrain to help the Bahraini monarchy suppress the rebellion there, or protests. There's a large minority Shia population in Saudi Arabia, and it happens to be very strategically located right where most of the oil is. Incurring this, the Yemen incursion, as the Houthis are Shia, how does this play out, in terms of Saudi domestic politics?

AL-RASHEED: I think the Saudi Shia started a kind of uprising protest movement. But they were suppressed. And until sort of recently, they continued to stage very small demonstrations in their villages in the Eastern province where the oil installations are, and the oil fields. But they failed to create any kind of cross-sectarian solidarities.

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ISIS and What's at Stake for Saudi Arabia? (Original Post) Jefferson23 Apr 2015 OP

Good read. In addition to all of that, I would add the following observations.... YoungDemCA Apr 2015 #1

In brief, it's all eroding, their control. So many attempts to remain in control but it's Jefferson23 Apr 2015 #2

We live in an ongoing Spy Novel these days...and it's exhausting to try to keep up with........ KoKo Apr 2015 #3

YoungDemCA

(5,714 posts)

1. Good read. In addition to all of that, I would add the following observations....

Reply to Jefferson23 (Original post)

Mon Apr 6, 2015, 05:24 PM

Apr 2015

A lot has been made of the House of Saud's reluctance to go after the many wealthy Saudi financiers of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, etc., and that the House of Saud themselves are a lot more responsible (read: complicit) in funding terrorist groups than they would ever admit.

Let's consider, though, that the Saudi royal family is itself inclusive of many rich businessmen and other wealthy people among its estimated 15,000 members, and that they are very much tied to other wealthy Saudi families (and wealthy Arab families in general) by marriage, friendship, business dealings, etc. Therefore, perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that they are reluctant to go after those wealthy Saudis (including-potentially-some members of the House of Saud itself-remember, it is a huge family with many rival factions) who do finance terrorism. I could definitely see them being clannish and protective of each other, and defensive against outside criticism.

Also, a lot of the funding for Al-Qaeda, ISIS, et.al, from what I understand, is done through multiple levels of charitable donations-some of it with significant state sponsorship, to be sure. The question, though, is to what extent are the wealthy Saudis (again, including members of the House of Saud) aware of where exactly their money is going when they donate money to certain "charities" or Islamic "foundations."

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

2. In brief, it's all eroding, their control. So many attempts to remain in control but it's

Reply to YoungDemCA (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 6, 2015, 05:52 PM

Apr 2015

falling apart, who knows when? I certainly would not wage a guess but look at the
region, it is on fire. What kind of power system is going to keep everyone under
their thumb? The more control they exert the more destabilized the region becomes.

Here at home, if you hear the Republicans who want to run for POTUS, they
sound so upset they may not have a reason to bomb Iran...seriously. Their
message has been consistent, how do we prevent more losses? That is what
they're selling and they expect the world to accept that the US can use
violence at it sees fit so I don't expect much better from SA, either.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)

3. We live in an ongoing Spy Novel these days...and it's exhausting to try to keep up with........

Reply to Jefferson23 (Reply #2)

Mon Apr 6, 2015, 08:12 PM

Apr 2015

"Real News" Outside the Mainstream Corporate Media.

It's a Giant Puzzle and putting all the pieces together is overwhelming! Things are so much more complicated these days with so many other "Moving Parts" given the death, destruction and dislocation that is going on in the MENA.

And, trying to find the REAL culprit when so many are enabling.

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