Articles: Saudi Arabia Archives

How do you solve a problem like Iran? May 23, 2025 Andrea Widburg Joe Biden dumped a terrible, existential problem in Donald Trump’s lap, and Trump may (I hope) be trying an out-of-the-box approach to address it.

Out of chaos—a new world order May 14, 2025 Allan J. Feifer Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia reveals a world vision that operates on shared prosperity, not the leftist and realpolitik shibboleths of failed post-war policies.

Riyadh: The New Global Diplomatic Hub? March 1, 2025 Yassin Fawaz Under the guidance of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia is becoming a player in the world of international diplomacy—and that’s okay.

Saudi Arabia: When it comes to Israel and Iran, the enemy of my enemy is my friend April 16, 2024 Andrea Widburg In a major break with the past, Saudi Arabia openly defended Israel against Iranian aggression.

A small but significant breakthrough: Israel's flag raised and national anthem publicly performed for the first time in Saudi Arabia July 19, 2023 Thomas Lifson With Joe Biden's incompetent diplomatic team driving away Saudi Arabia and into the eager hands of Xi Jinping, I'll eagerly celebrate any good news coming from the regime in Riyadh.

China is moving in to replace the US with Gulf oil monarchies July 17, 2023 Thomas Lifson Biden’s virtue-signaling demonizing of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the Khashoggi assassination set off a decline in U.S. influence that is spiraling into a power vacuum China is filling.

Biden reportedly about to imperil national security by draining Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gasoline prices before midterms October 18, 2022 Thomas Lifson I don't understand why Republican candidates for office are not challenging their opponents on whether or not they support President Biden's harming national security by draining of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for temporary price declines before the election.

Why Saudi Arabia is buying Russian oil July 26, 2022 Thomas Lifson A "sending coal to Newscastle" situation illustrating the idiocy of Biden's sanctions.

Biden's Russia-Ukraine diplomacy is a debacle March 9, 2022 Thomas Lifson Far from rallying the free world as its leader in reacting to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Biden's diplomatic team has been publicly snubbed and humiliated by even putative allies.

Think of the economic disaster if Obama or any Democrats running were president when Saudi oil fields were attacked September 17, 2019 Jack Hellner Thank goodness Trump is president.

The Morning They Beheaded The Drug Smugglers: It Wasn’t Pretty, Believe Me July 6, 2019 Allan C. Stover Saudi Arabia is the only nation that regularly beheads offenders. I’m the only Westerner in the crowd

The latest Saudi women's rights 'reform' is breathtaking (and not in a good way) January 7, 2019 Thomas Lifson How many tiny steps does it take to drag a seventh-century society into the twenty-first?

Worse than Khashoggi: Saudi Arabia is sheltering criminal suspect in hit-and-run death of a young American January 2, 2019 Thomas Lifson Saudi Arabia is sheltering its citizen who killed a U.S. high school student in Portland, a genuine outrage worthy of the sort of pressure that has been suggested for use against it in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Isn’t it Time to Move Past the Khashoggi Killing? December 10, 2018 Frank Hawkins Yes, it was gruesome, but what’s in our national interest now?

At last: A little realism on Saudi Arabia November 28, 2018 Thomas Lifson The read of the day is Angelo Codevilla's dose of reality about the nature of our "ally" and "friend" Saudi Arabia, titled "What Is Saudi Arabia to Us?"

Iran's mullahs go bonkers after Saudi crown prince's <em>60 Minutes</em> interview

Iran's mullahs go bonkers after Saudi crown prince's 60 Minutes interview March 21, 2018 Monica Showalter If the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, managed to cheese off the mullahs, it's one more reason to like him.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, up close March 19, 2018 Monica Showalter Kind of an eye-opener about what Saudi Arabia's new crown prince is really like.

Saudi Arabia buying into Hollywood powerhouse talent agency March 19, 2018 Thomas Lifson Buying into the very seat of Satan, as perceived by Wahhabi clergy. But there is a logic to the surprising deal.

Saudi's next reform: Scrapping womens' abayas? February 10, 2018 Monica Showalter An end to black garbage bag fashion statements?

Checkmating the Saudis on women's rights December 31, 2017 Monica Showalter A young chess grandmaster from Ukraine has thrown shade on Saudi Arabia's big plans to make itself a venue for international competitions, citing its record on women's rights.

A Game-Changer in the House of Saud? November 17, 2017 Alex Alexiev The media are babbling about a host of inconsequential things surrounding the purge of Saudi Arabia's princelings. Few have put their finger on the actual events and how they may reshape the Mideast.

Why Jared Kushner Was Crucial to the Saudi Opening May 28, 2017 James Lewis Well, the libs have a new scapegoat for their more sadistic rants: Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Let's examine why.

Women's rights oppressor elected to UN's women's rights commission April 25, 2017 Ethel C. Fenig The UN has placed Saudi Arabia on its commission on women. Is this an Alice in Wonderland-style joke?

Trump’s game in Saudi Arabia February 13, 2017 James Lewis Some conservatives are outraged that Mike Pompeo, the new CIA head, just awarded a medal to a Saudi monarch. They need to understand President Trump's strategy.

Saudi Bin Laden group skates on Mecca crane disaster that killed 110 people January 28, 2017 John Smith In September of 2015, a huge crane operated by the Saudi Bin Laden Construction Group collapsed in Mecca during severe weather, killing 110 people and injuring 209 others. And nobody will be punished.

Saudi Arabia punishes expat workers for doing their jobs January 17, 2017 John Smith A monarchy utterly dependent on foreigners to do the hard and skilled work struggles to break its addiction (and persuade its subjects to actually do the drudgery).

Saudi Arabia’s dependence on foreigners to do the work hits the wall January 9, 2017 John Smith This will not end well.

German defense minister enrages Saudi Arabia during visit December 15, 2016 Ed Straker The horror! Well, it's a start...

Saudi Arabia in arrears to construction contractors November 22, 2016 John Smith Fracking’s impact on world oil prices has led to tens of thousands unhappy, unemployed, unpaid foreign workers and unpaid contractors in Saudi Arabia. What could possibly go wrong?

Celebrating diversity with Airbus in Saudi Arabia September 5, 2016 Thomas Lifson Saudia Arabia's national airline and Airbus were both proud when a brand new model debuted with the carrier. But they hadn't factored in Bedouin culture...

World’s biggest hotel under construction...where? August 7, 2016 Thomas Lifson Looks just like the next mega-project for the Las Vegas Strip, minus all the fun stuff.

Russia-Saudi Oil War Underway July 3, 2016 John Smith While almost nobody outside the oil business notices, Russia and Saudi Arabia are at war over oil markets in Asia.

Desperate times in Saudi Arabia as oil minister fired, plan to privatize Aramco discussed May 9, 2016 Thomas Lifson Saudi Royals turn to 31-year-old prince as de facto ruler and plan major changes that might not be practical.

28 pages. And why not the truth? April 20, 2016 James Longstreet There is just too much “I know, and you don’t need to know” going on in Washington.

Hillary and Bernie turn on Obama, now support bill to allow 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia April 18, 2016 Thomas Lifson President Obama has to be furious with the about-face executed by Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. He leaves for Saudi Arabia tomorrow.

Saudi Arabia moves to allow foreign workers to gain permanent residency April 16, 2016 John Smith Will raise billions a year from fees for Kingdom reeling from low oil prices.

Saudi Arabia reins in religious police April 14, 2016 Thomas Lifson Are the heads of the Saud family preparing for the day when they will no longer be able to buy off the clergy?

Saudis bulldoze bodies of Hajj stampede victims September 28, 2015 Thomas Lifson It is unthinkable that Israel would ever treat dead Muslims in this fashion, but don’t expect Saudi Arabia to come under much fire from the Muslim world.

News from Saudi Arabia you won't see in the MSM May 15, 2015 Thomas Lifson A friend in Saudi Arabia who must remain anonymous writes to me with a couple of telling little signs

Obama's Gulf Summit collapsing (along with Arab support for his Iran negotiations) May 11, 2015 Thomas Lifson A very public vote of no-confidence in Obama's Iran policy.

Germany halts arms exports to Saudi Arabia January 25, 2015 Thomas Lifson Saudis not feeling the love from Germany, as Obama drops everything to honor late King Abdullah.

Obama changes plan and will fly to Saudi Arabia Tuesday to 'pay respects' to late King Abdullah January 24, 2015 Thomas Lifson Not so much an urge to bow to the successor as a need to answer hard questions from the new monarch who sees Iran encircling his family-owned country.

Iran nuclear deal alienating Saudis and Gulf emirates May 16, 2014 John Smith Iran negotiations are driving key Gulf allies to seek Russian ties.

The Tragic Geneva II Charade February 9, 2014 Alon Ben-Meir While Syria writhes in agony, the sponsors of the Geneva II talks seem pleased that the rebels and Assad's representatives sat face-to-face and talked.

How Saudi hate propaganda empowered Iran January 11, 2014 James Lewis The Saudis are now reaping the just harvest of anti-American and anti-Israel hatred they have sown throughout the Middle East and the world

Kerry's 'Fair and balanced' is unfair to Israel January 5, 2014 Ted Belman Secretary of State Kerry left Israel this morning for Jordan and Saudi Arabia. His parting words are not comforting.

The Decline and Fall of American Deterrence December 12, 2013 Richard Winchester All too soon, the United States will have the fewest naval vessels at sea since before World War I, the smallest Air Force ever, and an Army and Marine Corps with severely diminished capacity, while strategic flash points proliferate.

Obama's Iran Moves Could Start World War III November 19, 2013 Noah Beck Catastrophic consequences would directly result from Obama's disastrously weak -- but still reversible -- policies on the Iranian nuclear threat.

Role reversal: France pre-empts American surrender to Iran's nuke program November 10, 2013 Thomas Lifson It is a measure of how low American has fallen on the world stage that France was forced to man up and prevent a sell-out deal at the nuclear talks in Geneva

President Costanza Strikes Again October 19, 2013 Adam Turner A foolish decision by the President.

The War between Texas and DC October 16, 2013 Ben Voth The natural gas revolution is cutting the heart out of progressive plans for the new millennium.

A Call for Alliance Between Israel and Arab Nations October 8, 2013 Michael Curtis Hopes for an overarching "Arab State" have faded. It's time for the Arabs -- and Israel -- to move on.

Oxfam slaps American Wrists over Donations to Syria September 23, 2013 Paul Austin Murphy Oxfam appears to have completely disregarded the possibility that Americans and the British are not giving money for specific non-financial reasons.

Islam's Choice August 27, 2013 G. Murphy Donovan As America and Europe contemplate yet another intervention, this time in Syria, we might pause to reflect on what Muslims should be doing.

A TSA Announcement We'd Like to See July 6, 2013 Richard Kantro What the TSA says to do when encountering "persons of the Muslim faith...observing Ramadan...."

Russian Troubles in Syria, and Ours June 29, 2013 Shoshana Bryen The Bear has gotten stuck in the Syrian tar pit -- along with a number of other states.

Why Israel will attack this summer May 31, 2013 Ted Belman And who will support it

Saudis getting fed up with Obama's dithering on Syria? May 27, 2013 Thomas Lifson That historic Obama bow before the King of Saudi Arabia is wearing off, it appears

The System Worked? May 14, 2013 Jeff Treesh An arrest made this weekend at Detroit Metro Airport raised few eyebrows from the media, the government, or well, anybody.

The Oil Price Enigma May 9, 2013 S. Fred Singer The single most important commodity purchased today

A growing sense that we're not getting the truth about Boston bombing April 18, 2013 Thomas Lifson Public trust eroding as Obama meets with Saudi foreign ministry in an event not on his public schedule and the 20 year old Saudi is reportedly being deported.

Janet Napolitano upgrading Saudis into 'trusted traveler' program March 21, 2013 Thomas Lifson Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has completed her divorce proceedings from reality.

Another Saudi Christian in Big Trouble February 23, 2012 Jeff Treesh Another Saudi national has waded into controversy and possibly worse after he insulted the Prophet Mohammad via Twitter on Wednesday.

Topic: Saudi Arabia