The eyes of devout Muslims the world over turn toward Saudi Arabia five times a day. They’re praying toward Mecca, of course, and not Riyadh. But the kingdom that encompasses both holy sites and the world’s largest known reserves of oil occupies a central spot in geopolitics, by any calculus.
Since World War Two, sweet crude has linked the American people and the House of Saud, since 9/11, a partnership now souring and strained. Within Saudi Arabia, there are also strains. A push from Islamists to break with the infidel West, and a pull from others to bring Saudi society into the modern age.
All this in the shadow of violence in the Holy Land, and amid preparations for war with Iraq. The fragile U.S. -Saudi relationship. A conversation with a Saudi prince.
Guests:
Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki al-Saud, governor, Saudi Arabian
General Investment Authority
Gregory Gause, associate professor of
political
science, University of Vermont, author “Oil Monarchies: Domestic and
Security Challenges in the Arab Gulf States”