Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Call For Reform Getting Louder In Saudi Arabia



Little Unrest, But Growing Frustration In Saudi -- NPR

Before returning home to Saudi Arabia after medical treatments Wednesday, King Abdullah ordered a massive increase in the kingdom's development and state welfare payments — a move that some observers say was an attempt to stave off the popular unrest that is now sweeping the Arab world.

Even the merest hint of potential unrest in Saudi Arabia, which sits on a fifth of the world's oil reserves and is the third biggest source of oil for the United States, is enough to spark fear in the oil markets and cause nightmares in Washington.

Read more ....

More News On The Reform Movement In Saudi Arabia

Saudi king offers benefits as he returns from treatment -- BBC
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah promises $36 billion in benefits -- Christian Science Monitor
Saudi king announces benefits before return: TV -- Reuters
Saudi intellectuals demand reforms -- Washington Post/AP
Saudi Social Programs, Popular King May Hold Off Mideast Tumult -- Bloomberg
Can Saudi Arabia buy its way out of revolution? -- The Week
No Need to Worry About Saudis, Says Analyst -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: The spirit of revolution is spreading throughout the Arab world. Spreading a few dollars will only placate opponents (and satisfy supporters) for a short period of time.

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