Buying 'extra muscle, a buffer & animosity towards Iran'

"... "Saudi Arabia is using its excess budget wealth to silence the revolutions or shape their outcomes," said London-based Saudi researcher and author Madawi al-Rasheed. Riyadh has pledged $4 billion in aid to Egypt, throwing a lifeline to new rulers struggling with the economic impact of the anti-Mubarak unrest. It was also instrumental in a $20 billion handout to Bahrain and Oman for job-creating projects. ... "The kingdom is very concerned about the revolutionary wave. They don't want the waves to reach the shores of the Gulf," said Saudi political analyst Khalid al-Dakhil.

The Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), grouping six Sunni-ruled oil producers, is considering letting Jordan and Morocco join, adding two more monarchies to a bloc that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The invitation to the two non-oil countries was motivated by defense needs, not economic logic, analysts say. The GCC, which sent troops to Bahrain in March to help quell protests by majority Shi'ites there, wants extra muscle to counter perceived military and security threats from Iran. ... ... "They want to support Jordan. I think they could use Jordan as a buffer against Syria which is unstable," said Rasheed. Riyadh has tried to wean Syria from Iran, offering economic cooperation after King Abdullah visited Damascus in 2009. But no Saudi firm made big investments in Syria, which kept its alliance with Iran. U.S. officials have even accused Iran of helping Syria quash protests, a charge both countries deny.

Saudi financial aid to Egypt aimed to prevent instability in the Arab world's most populous nation, and to discourage Cairo's new rulers from mending fences with Tehran. "Their biggest worry is that Egypt restores ties with Iran," said Rasheed... King Abdullah initially backed Mubarak when Egyptians rose up against their leader. Saudi Arabia also gave refuge to ousted Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Days after the Saudi aid package, Egypt briefly detained and questioned an Iranian diplomat for spying. "It's interesting how immediately after Saudi Arabia announced the financial package, Egypt arrested the diplomat," said Mohammed al-Qahtani, a prominent pro-democracy activist..."