A Bloodied Kingdom

Saudi Arabia has come under attack from both Al Qaeda and the US: one accuses it of being too liberal and subject to Western influences, while the other is demanding faster liberal-democratic reform and wants less promotion of strict Islamic teachings. These demands may come to a head in the aftermath of the November 9th terrorist bombing that killed only Muslims – including children – and occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. The Saudi regime risks looking impotent if it does not effectively shut down Al Qaeda, and the US has made it clear that it will not tolerate any other outcome. The Saudi people themselves might also now react similarly against fundamentalist terrorists. If so, perhaps the war on terror will cease to be seen as a fight that pits 'Western civilization' against 'Muslim civilization'. – YaleGlobal