When dealing with universal hatred of Israel and Zionism among your inhabitants, to discredit your political opponents one has to link them to an easily conditioned reflexive hatred.

Osama and Al Qaeda are trying to overthrow the house of Saud by pointing out that they are in bed with the US which means they are in bed with Israel.

So their tactic is to say Zionism and Israel are behind the discord. It may not be true - but it will stem the flow of illiterate recruits if they think that in some manner they are being duped by a Zionist puppet.

We need the hous of Saud right now. Not because they are good guys, but when compared to the Jihadist/fundamentalists that would sweep if the house of Saud falls, they seem downright conservative.

The US has established a relationship with Saud family in America's interests, just as the British dealt with Nuri Said in Iraq in 1956 to secure a huge petroleum contract. If the US were not there helping to run the place it would be the Germans or the British or someone else. The Saud family chose to deal with the US. We were more trustworthy than the British, who always made deals and appeared more shifty. It didn't help that the British empire had a colonial track record which could be examined closely.

We helped the Saud family build up modern Arabia. We built the wells, manned them for decades and helped them to take advantage of their natural resources. This is not something to be embarassed about, quite the opposite - it is a point to American progress in developing the resources which have been used to help modernize the world, keep the transportation of mankind rolling and bring technology to a region which had none.

All leaders in this ignorant region tread a fine line as they balance Islam with government. Saddam claimed title to being a Moslem hero even though he was a Sunni. The Saud family exploit the fact that they care for the holiest shrines and made pilgrimmage to these spots free. (they used to collect fees from pilgrims)

This latest volley is just part of that balancing act. It is hard for the illiterate masses to understand how someone acting for Allah against 'infidels' can be evil. Tying Al Qaeda to Israel is a stroke of genius - at least when dealing with folks who are only able to understand the spoken Arab tongue and what they hear is what they know.

SDAI-Tech1