Off Balance & In need of Medication: "Whatever happens to Syria it will be coming back to us & America is turning to the 'power of ideas'!"

"... Saudi Arabia is frustrated over how to counter Iran's maneuverings, which include expanding its influence with Iraq's Shiite-dominated government, training Islamic militants in Lebanon and arming Houthi rebels in Yemen. The kingdom's army battled the rebels in 2009 along the Saudi-Yemen border. Riyadh also alleges that Tehran is aiding an Al Qaeda branch in Yemen for attacks on oil targets inside the kingdom.

Saud said, however, that Iran's alliances with countries such as Iraq and Syria were not stronger than the allegiances those nations have to the Arab world.

"Syria and Iraq are Arab countries, and whatever change happens [they] will be coming back to the Arab fold and not going toward Iran," he said....

Deep economic sanctions imposed on Iran have led to threats by Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, which would affect shipping lanes for all gulf countries. The Saudis have attempted to allay fears, saying that there is enough oil on the market and that it would boost output if necessary.

Saudi Arabia and other gulf states are more alarmed by the specter of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear installations.(Not our understanding of the Wikileaks' recorded minutes!) Such an attack would probably shift international condemnation against Iran to Israel, spur terrorism against Jerusalem and possibly lead to a wider regional war. Saud said that Israel's rhetoric is reckless and that its security is not in jeopardy.

"Who is threatening Israel with atomic bombs? Which Arab countries are arrayed on the border of Israel? Is there a threat to Israel's security?" he asked. An Israeli attack on Iran without considering the wider consequences "would be an act of extreme uncaring for the region and its stability," (what happened to 'cutiing the snake's head'?) he said.

Saud said his kingdom has been closely following the global debate over Washington's perceived loss of influence.

"People are saying that America is losing its power because it's not able to influence events in other countries," he said. "What you hear in the debate is that because America is not using its military force to solve things it's losing power."

He said, however, that the White House was turning "to the power of ideas," which is "more important that the power of artillery."..."