Mideast turmoil: Iran sees gains and rival Saudis senses pressures

Associated Press ^ | February 24, 2011 | By BRIAN MURPHY ,

[robowombat]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Arabia's rulers answered the Arab world's winter of rage with money: throwing $36 billion into housing and other social assistance channels in attempts to quell rumblings of dissent. Iran's president offered more bombast as Tehran tries to project sympathy for protesters.

The two approaches this week — largesse versus rhetoric — captures the style and stakes for the region's heavyweight rivals as Iran hunts for gains and Saudi tries hard to stamp out any threats. Already, the region has been reshaped by the fall of decades-old regimes and growing pressures on others, including Moammar Gadhafi's 42-year rule in Libya. But the ultimate questions for many are whether the pro-Western Saudi monarchy can ride out the unrest, and if Iran will capitalize on the changes with more footholds and influence in areas closely tied to Washington's interests.

"If an uprising occurs in Saudi Arabia, it will have a dramatic impact that is off the charts," said Theodore Karasik, a regional affairs expert at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.

"Policymakers will have to grapple with it for decades." Both nations have been touched by the region's two-month-old turmoil: Iran with a renewal of street clashes and Saudi's rulers facing rare challenges to their absolute power, including a call for protests March 11. Their responses, meanwhile, have reflected their mutual suspicions and their own survival instincts.

[SunkenCiv]

Zero’s bow meant nothing after all. :’) Thanks robowombat.

[TheOldLady]

His bow meant that he’s a wussy boy who is trying to subjugate our nation to the Islamists.