For those confused by the divisions in the Arab world and who find - TopicsExpress



          

For those confused by the divisions in the Arab world and who find the metric of the enemy of my enemy is my friend to be of limited utility, it is important to note that the Sunni/Shiite divide coincides, at least approximately, with the division between the Arab and Persian worlds. In geopolitical terms, Iraq is at the nexus of these worlds -- majority Shiite but ethnically Arab. There is an additional and often confusing dimension, although one thats historically central to Saudi policy: A willingness to support radical Sunnis abroad while containing their activities at home. Hence Riyadhs arms-length support for Osama bin Laden when he was leading jihadists in Soviet-controlled Afghanistan, and tolerance for jihadists in Chechnya, Bosnia, and Syria.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 11:46:57 +0000

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