"The fact is that Iran—unlike Saudi Arabia—is a serious regional power"

"... Sadly for the Saudis, the President won’t be able to answer the mail satisfactorily on any of these issues. Forget his distraction with Ukraine or the fact that he cares more about his own political legacy – improving the fortunes of America’s middle class—than his Middle Eastern one. To deal with Saudi concerns on these issues, Obama would have to be risk-ready rather than risk averse; and he’s anything but....The fact is that Iran—unlike Saudi Arabia—is a serious regional power with ambitions to dominate the Gulf ..."