NEW WAYS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO USE THE KINGDOM

The Kingdom's usefulness in U.S. foreign policy hasn't totally withered away. Under Abdallah, the Kingdom is better integrated in the family of American client states. For one, the United States relies on Saudi Arabia in occupied Palestine. One American-Israeli plan for that wretched land would've required the forced retirement of the commanders of the Palestinian police. Saudi Arabia had accepted to pay the pension salaries of these commanders, probably in response to an American request (Why else would they do it? Since Prime Minister Sharon has instructed his people to mobilize against the Kingdom in the United States). Hence, Saudi usefulness to American foreign policy. Should Iraq cease shipping cheap oil to Jordan, (another client state), the United States would hope that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait would replace the Iraqi supply. For now, though, the two countries are insisting on market prices. But some American pressure, along with repeated visits by King Abdallah to both countries, should change their mind.

Moreover, the Kingdom, through Egypt--with whom it cooperates very closely--is trying to rein in Hamas, and therefore control if not put an end to the Intifadha--a favor to the United States and to the thankless Israeli right-wing expansionists. Too, Saudi Arabia might be helping in other ways. SPC has noted the recent opening of Saudi business enterprises in the Sudan. There exists the distinct possibility that this expansion is meant as a way for the United States and the Kingdom to track down the finances of terror, having failed to do it the traditional way--by enacting laws, and creating vigilant bureaucracies. The money for the new enterprises is probably Saudi, the idea American.

But all is not bad for the Saudi government. The Kingdom's rulers can count on an indelible source of public pride. The concerted right-wing Israeli campaign against the Kingdom in the United States is providing its rulers with ample legitimacy. The many pro-Israeli think-tankers who are now running the shadow American government (e.g. the Defense Policy Board) have done some significant favors to the Kingdom's rulers. By spreading ideas about breaking up the Kingdom, and treating it like an enemy state, these people have provided the ruling family with domestic fodder to boost its legitimacy. Israel now is seen as the enemy behind all these efforts at subduing a defiant Kingdom.