THE SAUDI FACTOR – AT 8:57 P.M. ET:  It is hard for us to take our eyes off the coverage of Japan, with the high drama at the nuclear plants.  But other things are happening that may have long-term implications for the United States, including a rise in tension with Saudi Arabia, that great filling station in the sand.  From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Even before Saudi Arabia sent troops into Bahrain on Monday to quell an uprising it fears might spill across its own borders, American officials were increasingly concerned that the kingdom’s stability could ultimately be threatened by regional unrest, succession politics and its resistance to reform.

So far, oil-rich Saudi Arabia has successfully stifled public protests with a combination of billions of dollars in new jobs programs and an overwhelming police presence, backed by warnings last week from the foreign minister to “cut any finger that crosses into the kingdom.”

Monday’s action, in which more than 2,000 Saudi-led troops from gulf states crossed the narrow causeway into Bahrain, demonstrated that the Saudis were willing to back their threats with firepower.

The move created another quandary for the Obama administration, which obliquely criticized the Saudi action without explicitly condemning the kingdom, its most important Arab ally. The criticism was another sign of strains in the historically close relationship with Riyadh, as the United States pushes the country to make greater reforms to avert unrest.

Other symptoms of stress seem to be cropping up everywhere.

Saudi officials have made no secret of their deep displeasure with how President Obama handled the ouster of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, charging Washington with abandoning a longtime ally. They show little patience with American messages about embracing what Mr. Obama calls “universal values,” including peaceful protests.

When Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton were forced to cancel visits to the kingdom in recent days, American officials were left wondering whether the cause was King Abdullah’s frail health — or his pique at the United States.

COMMENT:  I hold no brief for Saudi Arabia.  If countries were cartoon characters, Saudi Arabia would be Mickey Mouse.  It's an artificially constructed country living under tenth-century religious rules.  But it is also regular, premium and super premium (93 octane) all wrapped into one, even though they don't clean the windshields. 

Saudi women may not be allowed to drive, but American women do drive, and they often drive with Saudi oil.

So, for that reason alone, the relationship is important.  We see no sign that the Saudi monarchy is in immediate danger, but, as the story indicates, there are many signs that the Saudis are disgusted with Obama, and may go their own way in terms of oil production, setting prices, and foreign policy.  The Saudis have learned that Obama is a cold man with no permanent friends.  His motto appears to be, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for me."  This is not appreciated, and the sense of disappointment in Obama has clearly spread to the Saudi kingdom.

Given this state of affairs, how helpful will the Saudis be in keeping down gasoline prices?  Your turn.

March 14, 2011