Obama Hesitant in Libya Because Saudi Arabia is Next

I find it surprising that almost three weeks after turmoil erupted in Libya, there is still no assertive policy position enumerated by the Obama administration. Now I know it is not easy to slap words on paper or read them from a teleprompter that will actually have weight and action, I do doubt the balls of all in Washington to address this conundrum. Inclusive of chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee john Kerry and Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman.

The President talks a mean game regarding “a range of potential options, including potential military options” but what is not stated is the problems of dealing with Libya while a future eruption in Saudi Arabia is likely eminent.

Like most other monarchs in the region, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia may follow the Libyan Cornel even though he has offered economic bribes. Saudi Arabia recently mobilized 10,000 security personnel into its north-eastern Shia Muslim provinces according to reports preparing for next week's "day of rage.” This could be both a nightmare and headache for Saudi Arabia's Monarch and the Obama Administration who it has been reported are in talks with the Saudi’s to get supplies and weapons to the Libyan opposition.

This new Arab awakening of rebellion and in Saudi namely from the Shia majority is similar to what the administration is ignoring in the Sunni-dominated nation of Bahrain, where protesters are calling for the overthrow of the ruling al-Khalifa family. Obama knows that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is reported to have told the Bahraini that if they do not end the Shia revolt, he will.

At least 20,000 Saudis are expected to gather in Riyadh and in the Shia Muslim provinces of the north-east of the country in six days, in an effort to overthrow of the House of Saud. In a desperate effort to avoid any outside news of the extent of the protests spreading, the Saudi’s have enacted fascist blogging regulations that prohibit non-citizens from write about news and chat room users being made to register with the government. Bloggers even need to obtain government licenses and to strictly abide by Islamic sharia law. Even “internet sites containing video and audio materials” created from mobile phone/smartphone content will fall under the newspaper and be defined as falling under the Saudi Press and Publications Law.

Obama’s problems are multiple. First regarding Libya is the overall perception of America interfering in Middle Eastern and North African Affairs as they did in Iraq and Kuwait while recanting the problems of being inactive as well as repeating what happened in Iraqi Kurdistan, Rwanda, and Bosnia and Herzegovina by not getting involved. And if the Saudi royal family, a "key ally" of the US and one of the world's principal oil producers decides to use violence against demonstrators, all will hit the fan. Especially with oil prices near $120 a barrel.

Yep, I admit it is easy for me to sit on the side lines and ruminate on what I see and think based on my understanding of behavior and history. Sorry to say Obama and most politicians who are not blinded by singular lobbied issues can not to the same. Guess there are no balls in Washington anymore.