The House of Saud

I think one of the more egregious topics that we have overlooked during the course has been the role of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East. This is the richest nation in the Middle East and arguably one of the most powerful nations in the world, but we have spent less than a class period discussing their role in the region, instead taking time to focus on conflicts. The big picture in the end is what matters and yes while Palestine and Israel have our ear because of the diplomatic magnitude of the situation, i think that one has to look towards Arab neighbors and to hope that their role will only get bigger in these situations.

One has to realize that Saudi Arabia needs to take a more active role in their own area. They represent the center of the Islamic community, housing the most holy city for Muslims, as well as having a bustling commercial sector. This includes their oil supply which makes up for over a 3rd of the world's oil. They have the ears of both the Muslim and the Western Worlds yet have not taken to the role as one would expect. Allies with the United States for years, this relationship soured through the presidency of George W. Bush, but now with Obama marking a new beginning, efforts need to be made to secure ties with the Saudis. That way an united front may represent added incentives for sides to come to agreements to prevent compromising diplomacy and to help bring peace to this war-tore region. Saudi Arabia represents a possible helping hand that can aid in quelling the Islamic Fundamentalist resistance that has been gaining popularity for its anti-westernized thinking over the last decade or so.