320 The Paypal Fund for Peace in Iraq

If the Americans go, advisor to the Saudi government Nawaf Obaid says, the Saudis will fight a proxy war with the Iranians over Iraq.

At first glance, that seems to be a pretty galling threat, and an incongruously incautious move for the PR-sensitive Saudis, when it appears on the pages of the Washington Post. One correspondent speculates that Cheney or someone in his entourage may have told the Saudis the United States is withdrawing from Iraq and that the Saudis had better use whatever influence they have to rein in the insurgency now, else the Sunnis will be overrun. According to this theory, Obaid’s article is the Saudis’ way of saying things won’t be that simple. Another speculates that this is a variation on the ‘Sunni Bulwark’ idea we’ve been hearing so much about lately (because supporting Sunni mujahideen against an enemy state has always worked out so well for the United States in the past). Yet another predicts that this would lead to an arms-dealers’ bonanza for the next 10-20 years and the eventual breakup of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “How do I become a Shia?” he jokes. Everyone on this little email discussion seems to agree that this is A Very Bad Idea.

Read the article. Other theories welcome.

In any case, I think I have the solution: I’ll take out a Paypal account. Saudis, Iranians, expat Baathists: rather than buying guns for pissed-off Iraqis, send those petrodollars this way. Americans: what are you spending on Iraq? Eleven million dollars an hour? Send it here. Let’s see how long the fighting lasts without a fresh supply of ammunition.

[tags]Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States, Cheney[/tags]

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  1. […] (Blog reaction to the offending op-ed at Arabist, Abu Aardvark, here, and everywhere) […]

    Pingback by Obaid Fired for Op-Ed | The Skeptic ?????? — December 6, 2006 #

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