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Are the French with the US this time round because they are scared of US punitive action by renaming French fries in the US Congress canteen as potato finger chips?

Will a little extra oil hurt? Why leave it all to US/EU corps alone?

Hey, the ultimate irony will be that Saudi funds will be fanning another round of anti-US campaign across the Ummah even while Saudis are the biggest beneficiaries of a Western intervention in Syria. Talk of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds!!

Right now US action in Syria will benefit Sunni extremists backed by Al Qaida. But once the dust settles over Damascus, Al Qaida campaign will begin citing Syria on the long list of grievances against the Great Satan who invaded another Muslim country in the War of Civilizations.... etc etc...

Good one.:)

Syria project perhaps dragged on because of Western hope that GCC force may act. But looks like they are not able overcome their fear of Iran. Plus the fear of domestic trouble.

The puzzle will be complete with installing a Saudi puppet in Iran. Syria is only a halfway house. Russia still remains inscrutable. But maybe a central Asia deal will pacify them.

I will not go by his words... I believe the decision was made long back and preparations already made. I will not be surprised if even the timing was decided. And likely Russian response factored in. US cares a damn for collateral... KSA/Qatar or the entire Persian Gulf. What Obama mouths is...

hmmmm .. wonder if a Tupolev commander on way to Saudi Arabia will suddenly feel the urge to 'accidentally' jettison a bomb load on rural France too!!

@nrupatunga thanks.

Al Qaida may have been a nebulous idea until Taliban gave it an Afghan home after Bin Laden failed to established one in Yemen. And since the destruction of Taliban, Al Qaida might have gone back to what it was. However, it is easy to congeal as a force to reckon around another Sunni theocratic...

Saudis do have control over all countries where Sunnis rule. Syria was the odd one out. Now that will be gone. They have total control over the GCC. Saudis intervene in force to slap down any attempt for a change of leadership in any of the GCC countries. That is what happened in Bahrain where a...

Wherever the power centre of a Caliphate, the caliph always ensured that the areas of the twin mosques were under his control whether Umayyads, Abbasids or Othmans... Though control of the twin mosques is not necessary for political power, their control provides a higher standing for Muslim...

@nruptunga The importance of Saudi Arabia can never be undermined so long as Muslims bow every day facing Ka'aba while praying. And do Hajj as part of their obligation as a Muslim. Even when Iraq and Egypt were in their peak for theosophical reasons, for the common Muslim Saudi Arabia was most...

No buddy, the difference is very very big. Because, Al Qaida wants to preside over a Caliphate, which combines the political and religious Islam. And it will give them huge clout across the Ummah as they would be custodian of the two most important mosques. Imagine the clout over jihadis when...

So long as Sauds are in power in Saudi Arabia, no chance of GCC withering away. Saudi Arabia is the primary target of Al Qaida, if you know history. Bin Laden's anger against US was provoked by its support to Saudi Arabia. All this talk about the Great Satan was nothing but an eyewash to cloak...

Iran is the principal benefactor of all Shias! Whether they are rulers over Sunni majority (Syria) or subjects (Bahrain) ruled by Sunni majority. That is a historical conundrum.

Alawites are a Shia tribe to which Al Assad belongs. They rule over a predominantly Sunni Arab population. Sunnis believe being the heirs to the Caliphate they have a right to rule. That is why there is huge problem wherever they are near 50%. Saudis support any government take over move by...

Deja vu? Iraq?

Nothing happens in Middle East without Saudi involvement. House of Saud has great influence over wherever Sunni Arabs reside. (Even beyond Arab heartland he has say, for example Pakistan.) An acquiescing US labels any regime that Saudis point out as dictatorial. Yes, nature of many regimes makes...