Now that the election has come and gone, Saudi Arabia’s government is trying to decide whether or not it should be applauding – or vomiting into its collective mouth. Bruce Riedel reports for AL Monitor:
But Trump was a surprise. The royals’ longtime connections to America’s two family dynasties, the Bushes and the Clintons, were on the wrong side of history. Some Saudi America watchers have argued that Trump’s rhetoric on Muslims was crucial to his victory, a source of deep concern for a country that prides itself as the Custodian of the two Holy Cities. The Saudis are nervous about what they see as rising Islamophobia in America.
But the Saudis are pleased with the strong talk from Trump and his appointees on Iran. Articles by key future decision-makers such as retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo‘s articulating the need for tougher American responses to Iran subversion and terrorism have been well-received in Riyadh.
But this wouldn’t be good:
The Arab-Israeli conflict has receded on Saudi priorities for the last two years, but if Trump follows through on promises to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem, the kingdom will react harshly. [Saudi King] Salman is a strong defender of the Islamic identity of Jerusalem. He has been involved in fundraising for supporting the Palestinian cause in Jerusalem since 1967, when then-King Faisal made him responsible for the effort.
Someone else’s chocolate bar always has a few unpleasant nuts in it. The question becomes, are you allergic?
