Bahrain, Saudi Arabia & Iran
A solution?
Well, how about this for starters. They have virtually no revenue apart from oil. They have very little domestic need for oil.They have lots of oil. We have very little oil. We need lots of oil. We could always, you know, buy it off them...
Only solution I can see in this capitalist world we live in.
I suppose we could always invest in non mineral based energy, but that would only annoy the City and the oil interests.
Well, how about this for starters. They have virtually no revenue apart from oil. They have very little domestic need for oil.They have lots of oil. We have very little oil. We need lots of oil. We could always, you know, buy it off them...
Only solution I can see in this capitalist world we live in.
I suppose we could always invest in non mineral based energy, but that would only annoy the City and the oil interests.
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how about a free Middle East, no longer governed by corrupt dictators or medieval monarchic dynasties supported by the West, but free independent democracies who bow to the will of the people?
A democratically-elected government in many if not most Middle Eastern countries would result in a 14th century style theoracy not unlike what we've seen in Iran for the last thirty years.
If you haven't lived there, you can have no idea of the incredible one-eyed pride Arabs have in their glorious history, their vastly superior military prowess, [I'm not kidding on that point - don't you know they've soundly defeated the Israelis in every military encounter they've had with them since (and before) 1948, only to have every hard-won victory stolen from them by the Great Satan America on the floor of the United Nations? Ask any Arab and he'll tell you, in great detail, how this is irrefutably true], their religion, and their deep-seated distrust, even hatred, of all things non-Arab and non-Muslim. I'm not talking about the educated Arabs you may have met during your pro-Hamas rally at the poly, but the other 95% - the ones who'll give the mullahs the overwhelming majority in any Western-style democratic election.
Oh, and once you've voted - democratically, Western style - you've voted. Once and once only. After that, any election involves no women allowed to vote, no candidates not approved by the local mullah allowed to stand, [as already happens in Iran], no non-Muslims and no-anyone else who doesn't toe the party line.
The country with the most to worry about in these unfolding events is Israel.
Israel has succeeded in justifying its stance in many controversial wars since its creation because it proclaimed itself as the the only "democracy" in the region, thus illiciting unbridled support from the USA and to more considered extent from Europe.
If real democracy does fill the power vacuum in Egypt, then it is likely to be more anti-Israel than the Mubharak regime, which was propped up by expensive US support.
Tunisia, Libya and Iran are all important - but not crucial. Yemen, Morocco are incidental.
The real issue is what will happen in Saudi. Saudi is the most extreme dichotomy of all these states - a profoundly fundamentalist, oil-rich state whose dictatorial leaders have been bought off by the West for years.
If Saudi erupts, then Israel could feel so cornered that it is reduced to a nuclear response.
Israel has succeeded in justifying its stance in many controversial wars since its creation because it proclaimed itself as the the only "democracy" in the region, thus illiciting unbridled support from the USA and to more considered extent from Europe.
If real democracy does fill the power vacuum in Egypt, then it is likely to be more anti-Israel than the Mubharak regime, which was propped up by expensive US support.
Tunisia, Libya and Iran are all important - but not crucial. Yemen, Morocco are incidental.
The real issue is what will happen in Saudi. Saudi is the most extreme dichotomy of all these states - a profoundly fundamentalist, oil-rich state whose dictatorial leaders have been bought off by the West for years.
If Saudi erupts, then Israel could feel so cornered that it is reduced to a nuclear response.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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The oil belongs to Saudi. The infrastructure, the exploration, development costs and the production and maintenance costs are met by the Western, (usually American) partner, those are the terms, always have been, always will. The owner of the oil takes 51% of the profit and the Western partner gets the balance after deductions, still enough to maintain their continued interest.
Oh how I laughed!
I think you are probably what is generally known as a 'theory man' pr00ne.
Or, how about a free Middle East, no longer governed by corrupt dictators or medieval monarchic dynasties supported by the West, but free independent democracies who bow to the will of the people?
I think you are probably what is generally known as a 'theory man' pr00ne.
The West will have no stomach, let alone the military clout, to take control of Saudi's oil fields. Also, how would our forces cope with a Shia uprising in the area were we to take control ? Would we ape Gaddafi and gun them down? The world has changed and we are going to have to live with it.
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@ pr00ne
Forgive me for saying this, but I believe you are either extremely naive in the world of politics or disingenuous. I agree totally about the corrupt governments/ rulers etc, but "free independant democracies"?
You appear to have forgotten the following: -
1/ Irans political interference with a desire to have influence and control of all in the Middle East, and all that that leads to
2/ Religious interference
3/ Tribal influence
4/ The oil and every nation in the worlds requirement for oil - and lots of it
5/ Peak production of oil has been reached, or is close to it. Less oil, but still a growing requirement for it.
6/ Chinas growing requirements, and desire to control and own all minerals they can get their hands on, not only from a need in their own county, but also to have materials to produce goods to sell to the rest of the world.
7/ As stated elsewhere, you do not appear to understand oil exploration and extraction, licencing etc.
Finally, how many democracies do you know that aren't corrupt? I can't think of one. I had a discussion of how corrupt our politicians have been, and still are, recently with a bunch of Tanzanians and Ugandans when out in the field recently. None of them could believe that we hadn't had a revolution to get rid of them, and were still allowing them to be corrupt.
Hval
Or, how about a free Middle East, no longer governed by corrupt dictators or medieval monarchic dynasties supported by the West, but free independent democracies who bow to the will of the people?
You appear to have forgotten the following: -
1/ Irans political interference with a desire to have influence and control of all in the Middle East, and all that that leads to
2/ Religious interference
3/ Tribal influence
4/ The oil and every nation in the worlds requirement for oil - and lots of it
5/ Peak production of oil has been reached, or is close to it. Less oil, but still a growing requirement for it.
6/ Chinas growing requirements, and desire to control and own all minerals they can get their hands on, not only from a need in their own county, but also to have materials to produce goods to sell to the rest of the world.
7/ As stated elsewhere, you do not appear to understand oil exploration and extraction, licencing etc.
Finally, how many democracies do you know that aren't corrupt? I can't think of one. I had a discussion of how corrupt our politicians have been, and still are, recently with a bunch of Tanzanians and Ugandans when out in the field recently. None of them could believe that we hadn't had a revolution to get rid of them, and were still allowing them to be corrupt.
Hval
Last edited by hval; 25th Feb 2011 at 10:39. Reason: Whoops! Spelling error
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"Peak production of oil has been reached, or is close to it"
not so - Greenpeace proganda
the main oil companies have declared reserves stretching out 42 years - and that number has been the same every year since the mid '90's
it just isn't worth spending money looking for oil you are only going to produce in year 43 onwards
gas production in the US Lower 48 is RISING after 150 years of production
not so - Greenpeace proganda
the main oil companies have declared reserves stretching out 42 years - and that number has been the same every year since the mid '90's
it just isn't worth spending money looking for oil you are only going to produce in year 43 onwards
gas production in the US Lower 48 is RISING after 150 years of production
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Nuclear Fusion
Only slightly off topic.
Middle east problems relate to us because we need middle east oil to power our industries and lifestyle.
We should be aiming to solve our power problems with power generated by nuclear fusion.
Success with power generated by nuclear fusion would mean that we would not need oil.
Spend money on nuclear fusion research , not on a railway to Birmingham.
As an added bonus we could then afford proper funding for our armed forces.
Middle east problems relate to us because we need middle east oil to power our industries and lifestyle.
We should be aiming to solve our power problems with power generated by nuclear fusion.
Success with power generated by nuclear fusion would mean that we would not need oil.
Spend money on nuclear fusion research , not on a railway to Birmingham.
As an added bonus we could then afford proper funding for our armed forces.
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Or, how about a free Middle East, no longer governed by corrupt dictators or medieval monarchic dynasties supported by the West, but free independent democracies who bow to the will of the people?
Can you name any such system, past or present, in the world?
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Israel has succeeded in justifying its stance in many controversial wars since its creation because it proclaimed itself as the the only "democracy" in the region, thus illiciting unbridled support from the USA and to more considered extent from Europe.
I now teach - some of out science text books are a bit dated (don't blame me, you'd be amazed at how little cash I get to run my dept each year), apparently oil was due to run out 5 years ago....
I LOVED this comment:
We should be aiming to solve our power problems with power generated by nuclear fusion.
On the other hand, if we can make our solar cells more efficient then the Sun is quite literally beaming free energy at us - I've got solar panels on my roof, they help pre-heat my water, free energy. If we can improve our solar cell and battery efficiency we've got it hacked.
Dave
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don't you know they've (the Arabs) soundly defeated the Israelis in every military encounter they've had with them since (and before) 1948, only to have every hard-won victory stolen from them by the Great Satan America on the floor of the United Nations? Ask any Arab and he'll tell you, in great detail, how this is irrefutably true]
The Cairo Military Museum is a case in point. Whole halls devoted to the huge victories they scored against the Zionist Entity in 1973 (while everyone in Israel was home on holidays) - but not one solitary word about what happened to those victorious forces one week later when the "Zionists" came out to play.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Washington Post: Amid the Mideast protests, where is Saudi Arabia?
Two months into the Arab revolution, one very fat lady has yet to sing. But the turn of Saudi Arabia - home to one-fifth of the world's oil reserves, and the United States' most important remaining Arab ally - may be coming soon.
Think there's no chance that this kingdom's restless youth - 60 percent of the population is under 18, and 28 percent of working-age youths are unemployed - will rise in revolt? King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz doesn't agree with you. On Wednesday, the ruler landed in Riyadh after a three-month absence abroad for medical treatment - and for an 87-year-old with a bad back, he looked like a man in a big hurry. Before his plane even touched down, Abdullah had ordered up $36 billion in new welfare grants for his people - about $2,000 for every Saudi. There were loans for young Saudis to buy homes, get married and start a business, and a 15 percent pay raise for government workers. Next are a prisoner release and a cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, waiting among the 50 or so white-robed men on the tarmac to meet Abdullah was the man who worries him most: King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of the neighboring island nation of Bahrain. A week ago the Khalifa regime tried to put down the first popular uprising in an Arab emirate by force - the solution sought by Saudi Arabia. It failed, thanks in part to countervailing pressure from the United States, which keeps a fleet in Bahrain's port. Thousands of protesters are camped in the center of Bahrain's capital, Manama. Their demands, from the Saudi perspective, are frightening: at the least, a constitutional monarchy that will empower the country's repressed Shiite majority - and maybe also the deposal of the al Khalifa family, which is Sunni. Watching closely are the 2 million Shiites of Saudi Arabia's oil-rich eastern province, who are also a disadvantaged majority in their region and who are separated from Bahrain by a 16-mile causeway.
King Hamad probably has broken some bad news to King Abdullah: I no longer have the option of ending this by force. It won't work - and the Americans won't let me. That leaves the Saudi ruler with a couple of hard choices. He can order Saudi forces through the causeway to put down the Bahraini Shiites, in what would be an Arab version of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Or he can let the al-Khalifas bargain away their power, while hoping that the democratic infection doesn't spread. The invasion is a real possibility: Saudi troops helped put down a Shiite rebellion in Bahrain in the 1990s. Earlier this week, the Saudi Council of Ministers issued a Brezhnev-like declaration: "The kingdom will stand by the sisterly state of Bahrain with all its capabilities." A lot of experts in Washington are convinced that the Saudis won't hesitate to act if the Bahraini regime appears in jeopardy."
But invasion could bring Saudi Arabia directly into conflict with the Obama administration, which is backing the reform route in Bahrain. It could even cause a historic rift in the 65-year-old alliance. At the least, a $60 billion arms sales package just agreed to between Washington and Riyadh would be in danger. Abdullah has no love for Obama; he spurned the U.S. president's request for help in the Arab-Israeli peace process and fumed at Obama's turn against Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak. According to the New York Times, the last of their two phone calls during the Egyptian crisis "ended in sharp disagreement."
Still, I'm betting that Abdullah would rather be a Gorbachev than a Brezhnev. Rather than invade, he's more likely to embrace the strategy of trying to get ahead of the Arab wave of change before it is too late. That's because Abdullah has started down this path before. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in which 15 Saudis participated, the then-crown prince began to cautiously plan a liberalization of his economic and political system. One of his closest counselors was a 40-ish Georgetown graduate named Adel al Jubeir - who, since 2007, has been the Saudi ambassador to Washington. In a 2003 interview, Jubeir outlined to me an expansive political reform agenda: first, elections in professional organizations of journalists and doctors, as well as universities; then municipalities. Last would come an election to the quasi-parliamentary shura council, which Abdullah now appoints. "If we move deliberately and we do all the right steps, I don't see why we can't have a society with the rule of law and civil liberties and elections," Jubeir said.
The municipal elections were duly held in 2005; in 2009, when another vote was due, they were canceled. Abdullah's reforms, undertaken in large part because of pressure from the Bush administration, stalled. But Jubeir is still around - in fact, the king just extended his term in Washington. Is the fat lady finally ready to sing? We'll soon find out.
Two months into the Arab revolution, one very fat lady has yet to sing. But the turn of Saudi Arabia - home to one-fifth of the world's oil reserves, and the United States' most important remaining Arab ally - may be coming soon.
Think there's no chance that this kingdom's restless youth - 60 percent of the population is under 18, and 28 percent of working-age youths are unemployed - will rise in revolt? King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz doesn't agree with you. On Wednesday, the ruler landed in Riyadh after a three-month absence abroad for medical treatment - and for an 87-year-old with a bad back, he looked like a man in a big hurry. Before his plane even touched down, Abdullah had ordered up $36 billion in new welfare grants for his people - about $2,000 for every Saudi. There were loans for young Saudis to buy homes, get married and start a business, and a 15 percent pay raise for government workers. Next are a prisoner release and a cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, waiting among the 50 or so white-robed men on the tarmac to meet Abdullah was the man who worries him most: King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of the neighboring island nation of Bahrain. A week ago the Khalifa regime tried to put down the first popular uprising in an Arab emirate by force - the solution sought by Saudi Arabia. It failed, thanks in part to countervailing pressure from the United States, which keeps a fleet in Bahrain's port. Thousands of protesters are camped in the center of Bahrain's capital, Manama. Their demands, from the Saudi perspective, are frightening: at the least, a constitutional monarchy that will empower the country's repressed Shiite majority - and maybe also the deposal of the al Khalifa family, which is Sunni. Watching closely are the 2 million Shiites of Saudi Arabia's oil-rich eastern province, who are also a disadvantaged majority in their region and who are separated from Bahrain by a 16-mile causeway.
King Hamad probably has broken some bad news to King Abdullah: I no longer have the option of ending this by force. It won't work - and the Americans won't let me. That leaves the Saudi ruler with a couple of hard choices. He can order Saudi forces through the causeway to put down the Bahraini Shiites, in what would be an Arab version of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Or he can let the al-Khalifas bargain away their power, while hoping that the democratic infection doesn't spread. The invasion is a real possibility: Saudi troops helped put down a Shiite rebellion in Bahrain in the 1990s. Earlier this week, the Saudi Council of Ministers issued a Brezhnev-like declaration: "The kingdom will stand by the sisterly state of Bahrain with all its capabilities." A lot of experts in Washington are convinced that the Saudis won't hesitate to act if the Bahraini regime appears in jeopardy."
But invasion could bring Saudi Arabia directly into conflict with the Obama administration, which is backing the reform route in Bahrain. It could even cause a historic rift in the 65-year-old alliance. At the least, a $60 billion arms sales package just agreed to between Washington and Riyadh would be in danger. Abdullah has no love for Obama; he spurned the U.S. president's request for help in the Arab-Israeli peace process and fumed at Obama's turn against Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak. According to the New York Times, the last of their two phone calls during the Egyptian crisis "ended in sharp disagreement."
Still, I'm betting that Abdullah would rather be a Gorbachev than a Brezhnev. Rather than invade, he's more likely to embrace the strategy of trying to get ahead of the Arab wave of change before it is too late. That's because Abdullah has started down this path before. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in which 15 Saudis participated, the then-crown prince began to cautiously plan a liberalization of his economic and political system. One of his closest counselors was a 40-ish Georgetown graduate named Adel al Jubeir - who, since 2007, has been the Saudi ambassador to Washington. In a 2003 interview, Jubeir outlined to me an expansive political reform agenda: first, elections in professional organizations of journalists and doctors, as well as universities; then municipalities. Last would come an election to the quasi-parliamentary shura council, which Abdullah now appoints. "If we move deliberately and we do all the right steps, I don't see why we can't have a society with the rule of law and civil liberties and elections," Jubeir said.
The municipal elections were duly held in 2005; in 2009, when another vote was due, they were canceled. Abdullah's reforms, undertaken in large part because of pressure from the Bush administration, stalled. But Jubeir is still around - in fact, the king just extended his term in Washington. Is the fat lady finally ready to sing? We'll soon find out.
Last edited by ORAC; 26th Feb 2011 at 09:54.
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Good analysis here on the RAeS site on Middle East unrest and implications for aviation & defence...
Shifting sands ? aviation and Middle East unrest | Aerospace Insight | The Royal Aeronautical Society
Not just defence tho. - with a whole load of Airbus and Boeing's backlog tied up in Gulf airlines if things do spread even more then everyone is potentially up a certain creek without a certain nautical tool...
Shifting sands ? aviation and Middle East unrest | Aerospace Insight | The Royal Aeronautical Society
Not just defence tho. - with a whole load of Airbus and Boeing's backlog tied up in Gulf airlines if things do spread even more then everyone is potentially up a certain creek without a certain nautical tool...
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Excellent
Very expert analysis there ORAC. Enjoyed reading it. I watch in wonder the BBC reporting on this unfolding situation, almost ' hurrah, jolly hockey-sticks', at the 'uprisings'. People power the cry.
Few are looking at the fundamental difficulties that will lie ahead, Israel and the peace process being at the heart, then the oil, then the West wonderment at being caught on the back foot. What will we do now. The answer in short is not a lot. Reported this morning of US sanctions back on Libya, the Leader must be reeling at this??
Loved the previous comment on when the revolution would start here to remove our corrupt lot. Not soon enough in my view.
Few are looking at the fundamental difficulties that will lie ahead, Israel and the peace process being at the heart, then the oil, then the West wonderment at being caught on the back foot. What will we do now. The answer in short is not a lot. Reported this morning of US sanctions back on Libya, the Leader must be reeling at this??
Loved the previous comment on when the revolution would start here to remove our corrupt lot. Not soon enough in my view.
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Nuclear fusion
A reply to davejb at post 31
I prefer to believe Professors Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox.
Try this website: //www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/11/science-stephen-hawking-brian-cox
I prefer to believe Professors Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox.
Try this website: //www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/11/science-stephen-hawking-brian-cox
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Torygraph: Saudi Arabia contagion triggers Gulf rout
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul stock index has tumbled 11pc in wild trading over the past two days, led by banks and insurers. Dubai’s bourse has hit a 7-year low.
The latest sell-off was triggered by the arrest of a Shi’ite cleric in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province after he called for democratic reforms and a constitutional monarchy. The province is home to Saudi Arabia’s aggrieved Shi’ite minority and also holds the country’s vast Ghawar oilfield, placing it at the epicentre of global crude supply.
“Unrest in this region can have fatal consequences for the world,” said JBC Energy. “The plunge on the Saudi stock exchange can be interpreted as a sign of waning trust.”
In Bahrain, the island nation’s Sunni elite holds sway over a Shi’ite majority that is denied key jobs and has a token political voice, making it a trial run for Saudi Arabia’s near-identical tensions in the Eastern Province.
Bahraini dissidents have so far been much bolder, prompting a bloody crackdown last month when at least seven people were shot by the military. The ruling family – under intense pressure from Washington to stop the killings – has since held out an olive branch to protesters and let the radical Haq leader Hassan Mushaima return from exile, yet the crisis is far from contained.
My Mushaima said on Wednesday that protesters have “the right to appeal for help from Iran” if Saudi military units interfere in the struggle. Tanks were seen crossing the 17-mile causeway from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain on Tuesday.
“These were supposed to be Bahrain’s tanks returning from Kuwait: that is not a credible story,” said Siras Abi Ali, a Gulf expert at the risk group Exclusive Analysis.......
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul stock index has tumbled 11pc in wild trading over the past two days, led by banks and insurers. Dubai’s bourse has hit a 7-year low.
The latest sell-off was triggered by the arrest of a Shi’ite cleric in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province after he called for democratic reforms and a constitutional monarchy. The province is home to Saudi Arabia’s aggrieved Shi’ite minority and also holds the country’s vast Ghawar oilfield, placing it at the epicentre of global crude supply.
“Unrest in this region can have fatal consequences for the world,” said JBC Energy. “The plunge on the Saudi stock exchange can be interpreted as a sign of waning trust.”
In Bahrain, the island nation’s Sunni elite holds sway over a Shi’ite majority that is denied key jobs and has a token political voice, making it a trial run for Saudi Arabia’s near-identical tensions in the Eastern Province.
Bahraini dissidents have so far been much bolder, prompting a bloody crackdown last month when at least seven people were shot by the military. The ruling family – under intense pressure from Washington to stop the killings – has since held out an olive branch to protesters and let the radical Haq leader Hassan Mushaima return from exile, yet the crisis is far from contained.
My Mushaima said on Wednesday that protesters have “the right to appeal for help from Iran” if Saudi military units interfere in the struggle. Tanks were seen crossing the 17-mile causeway from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain on Tuesday.
“These were supposed to be Bahrain’s tanks returning from Kuwait: that is not a credible story,” said Siras Abi Ali, a Gulf expert at the risk group Exclusive Analysis.......
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Independent (Robert Fisk): Saudis mobilise thousands of troops to quell growing revolt
Saudi Arabia was yesterday drafting up to 10,000 security personnel into its north-eastern Shia Muslim provinces, clogging the highways into Dammam and other cities with busloads of troops in fear of next week's "day of rage" by what is now called the "Hunayn Revolution".
Saudi Arabia's worst nightmare – the arrival of the new Arab awakening of rebellion and insurrection in the kingdom – is now casting its long shadow over the House of Saud. Provoked by the Shia majority uprising in the neighbouring Sunni-dominated island of Bahrain, where protesters are calling for the overthrow of the ruling al-Khalifa family, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is widely reported to have told the Bahraini authorities that if they do not crush their Shia revolt, his own forces will.
The opposition is expecting at least 20,000 Saudis to gather in Riyadh and in the Shia Muslim provinces of the north-east of the country in six days, to demand an end to corruption and, if necessary, the overthrow of the House of Saud. Saudi security forces have deployed troops and armed police across the Qatif area – where most of Saudi Arabia's Shia Muslims live – and yesterday would-be protesters circulated photographs of armoured vehicles and buses of the state-security police on a highway near the port city of Dammam.
Although desperate to avoid any outside news of the extent of the protests spreading, Saudi security officials have known for more than a month that the revolt of Shia Muslims in the tiny island of Bahrain was expected to spread to Saudi Arabia. Within the Saudi kingdom, thousands of emails and Facebook messages have encouraged Saudi Sunni Muslims to join the planned demonstrations across the "conservative" and highly corrupt kingdom. They suggest – and this idea is clearly co-ordinated – that during confrontations with armed police or the army next Friday, Saudi women should be placed among the front ranks of the protesters to dissuade the Saudi security forces from opening fire.............
Saudi Arabia was yesterday drafting up to 10,000 security personnel into its north-eastern Shia Muslim provinces, clogging the highways into Dammam and other cities with busloads of troops in fear of next week's "day of rage" by what is now called the "Hunayn Revolution".
Saudi Arabia's worst nightmare – the arrival of the new Arab awakening of rebellion and insurrection in the kingdom – is now casting its long shadow over the House of Saud. Provoked by the Shia majority uprising in the neighbouring Sunni-dominated island of Bahrain, where protesters are calling for the overthrow of the ruling al-Khalifa family, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is widely reported to have told the Bahraini authorities that if they do not crush their Shia revolt, his own forces will.
The opposition is expecting at least 20,000 Saudis to gather in Riyadh and in the Shia Muslim provinces of the north-east of the country in six days, to demand an end to corruption and, if necessary, the overthrow of the House of Saud. Saudi security forces have deployed troops and armed police across the Qatif area – where most of Saudi Arabia's Shia Muslims live – and yesterday would-be protesters circulated photographs of armoured vehicles and buses of the state-security police on a highway near the port city of Dammam.
Although desperate to avoid any outside news of the extent of the protests spreading, Saudi security officials have known for more than a month that the revolt of Shia Muslims in the tiny island of Bahrain was expected to spread to Saudi Arabia. Within the Saudi kingdom, thousands of emails and Facebook messages have encouraged Saudi Sunni Muslims to join the planned demonstrations across the "conservative" and highly corrupt kingdom. They suggest – and this idea is clearly co-ordinated – that during confrontations with armed police or the army next Friday, Saudi women should be placed among the front ranks of the protesters to dissuade the Saudi security forces from opening fire.............