Saudi’s Syrian adventures may soon be over

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Reports of Saudi king’s possible visit to Russia indicate that Saudi Arabia’s adventurism in Syria is coming to a close.

According to the Russian presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, the visit of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Russia is being worked out and agreed through diplomatic channels.

This shows Riyadh is ready to reach a ‘compromised solution’ on the Syrian crisis – a solution that may not be what the US seems to be attempting to achieve through its renewed engagement in Syria and Iraq and its (possible) policy of balkanization of Syria into different “safe zones.”

As is evident, the kingdom’s engagement in Syria and Yemen has rather grown overstretched. Military fatigue in Yemen and resource fatigue in Syria seem to be getting the better of its establishment that no longer seems ‘energetic’ enough to keep itself embroiled in the conflict, especially when no ‘rational’ and balanced solution, as far as the Saudi position is concerned, is available in the hindsight.

http://atimes.com/2015/11/saudis-syrian-adventures-may-soon-be-over/

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1. Saudi Arabia trapped in messy Yemen war

By: Hugh Naylor The Washington Post, Published on Fri Nov 13 2015

BEIRUT—Eight months after launching a war in Yemen, Saudi Arabia appears trapped in a protracted and devastating conflict that is straining relations with its allies, intensifying internal power struggles and emboldening its regional rival, Iran, analysts say.

Since March, the key U.S. ally has led a coalition of mostly Gulf Arab countries and Yemeni fighters in a military campaign to drive out Iranian-aligned rebels who seized the capital, Sanaa, and swaths of the Arabian Peninsula country.

But the coalition appears increasingly hobbled by divisions and unable to find a face-saving way to end the costly conflict.

The rebels, known as Houthis, still control much of Yemen’s north. And in southern areas where the coalition has driven them out, lawlessness has spread as attacks linked to an Islamic State affiliate wreak havoc.


http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/11/13/saudi-arabia-trapped-in-messy-yemen-war.html

[KoKo]

2. Very interesting read....

This looks hopeful for some kind of solution to begin to end the Yemen tragedy...and possibly leave it to Iran to do the clean up? The first article about Russia and Saudi Arabia alliance for the future would seem to leave a door open for Iran to take charge of Yemen if the Saudi's back off. But, then, would Iran really want to get into cleaning out IS and other terrorist influences in the area along with having to sort out the rest of the chaos there?

And this is interesting about possible power struggles within the Saudi kingdom also contributing to a rethink of their Yemen intervention. It's always seemed questionable that the 30 year old Prince Salman would be put in charge of the Yemen situation given his total lack of experience for such a large undertaking.

From the Article:

King Salman, who took power in January, has rattled the kingdom with shakeups, including the appointment of his 30-year-old son to deputy crown prince and defence minister, placing him in charge of the Yemen campaign. An economy battered by low oil prices has added to the friction. Dissenters within the royal family have released several open letters criticizing the king.

“It’s all somewhat murky, of course, but the war is generating this competition for power,” said Yezid Sayigh, a Middle East analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center.

The relatively small number of Saudi troops fighting in Yemen — estimated at several hundred — signals Saudi rulers’ heightened concern about the potential domestic blowback over casualties from the war, Sayigh said.

Despite requests from Saudi Arabia, allies such as Egypt and Pakistan have refused to send in ground forces. Several thousand UAE troops have taken the lead on the ground in Yemen.

But allied Yemeni fighters say that the coalition has deployed far too few soldiers, causing a land offensive that started in June to falter.

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3. It sort of confirms the picture I get from reading around.

The Saudi-Russia deal would be centered around oil prices, a common interest, and would have to include Iran and others.

So it would be a big change. I'm not sure how much change the Saudi state, such as it is, can handle.

[KoKo]

4. ...!

Remember when young Defense Minister Prince Salmon (but not the King) came to Camp David along with some of the UAI Members last Summer, was it? I've always wondered what went on there and if Obama had some positive influence in this that might have begun at that meeting.

Did he call the meeting to try to get some beginnings of a peace agreement in place for Yemen, at that time, and they instead urged the U.S. to get even more involved with ramping up military aid he refused but did decide to minmally help them with coordinating their air strikes. That seems to have not worked out so well, though. I don't remember seeing much follow-up about what went on in that meeting in the MSM.

I get the feeling that events in the ME are being working out by letting those most effected handle them as Obama tries to pull back involvement despite the urge of the war hawks for more and more active intervention. The Iran Agreement seems to have facilitated that.

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5. I think Obama is a restraining influence, you might say.

You merely need to allow that all the attacks on his foreign policy are not due to racism to see that, it's always that he is not being aggresive enough, the War Party does not like him at all.

I would not want to try to characterize his thoughts, he is a smart guy, and he speaks pretty well for himself.

[KoKo]

6. ...!

Fair and Balanced. It is too soon to judge.

Now we have the Paris Attacks...much going on. Who would want to be in that job....