Beware end of Saudi patience
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MANY observers look at the movements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as slow and does not match the magnitude of the incident; hence, they are surprised by any measure that the Saudi leadership takes on issues concerning local or foreign affairs.
Those who know the nature of the House of Saud have realized very well its political philosophy. It has been unchanged since it was anchored by the late King Abdulaziz when he said, “My principle and method never start with aggression. Instead, I wait and have patience with the aggressor as I attempt to mend whatever can be mended. I endure until those close and far to me accuse me of cowardice and fear. I only strike when patience does not find a place.”
This is why the Kingdom continues to refrain from taking a step until all means of forbearance and diplomacy are exhausted – whether the past or current leadership represented by King Salman and his Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
The Kingdom did not resort to any military option concerning Yemen and its issues. It resorted to military option only when diplomatic and peaceful efforts were exhausted, in addition to the paralysis that the agreement tailored by Gulf countries sustained owing to the Houthi rebels and deposed Yemeni leader and their terrorist operations along the Saudi-Yemeni border or occupation of the capital Sanaa and vast areas of Yemen.
This necessary reaction of the Kingdom came at a time people thought it bowed to the inevitable. Nevertheless, when the ‘Decisive Storm’ military operation started, everyone was certain that it was time for the decisive strike.
The same applies internally especially when Saudis felt that extremism and fanaticism had unshaken roots in the country, until the issuance of a royal decree which barred the Committee for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) from interfering and expanded the way to innocent entertainment for which Saudis used to spend huge amount outside their country.
The same also applies on the linking of land valued at about SAR 2 trillion as corruption and bribery became rampant in recent years until the issuance of a royal order to form the Supreme Anti-Corruption which immediately took action and arrested a large number of corrupt officials.
The committee embarked on restoring rights of the deserving, liberation of land from illegal appropriation and then returning it to the public treasury.
It is worth going back to 1990 when the Iraqi forces, under the command of Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. At the time, several political circles were astonished by the delayed reaction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the third day of the invasion, the late King Fahad bin Abdulaziz announced a decisive position that led to the quick formation of military coalition which liberated Kuwait.
Based on the abovementioned circumstances, we can look today at the position being taken by the Kingdom towards Iran and ‘Hezbollah’ practices and the way it is dealing with such a crucial issue.
Those following up the recent stances of the leader of ‘Hezb Al-Shaytan’ – Hassan Nasrallah – and his attempt to disassociate from crimes committed by his group in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen; have realized that Riyadh is patient and it chooses the right moment to make a move. It takes a decisive step to deter anyone from tampering with its security or Arab security.
Based on facts mentioned above, we see that years of wisdom and determination whose first lines were written by the late King Abdulaziz are being repeated today through Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and his Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Because of this, we believe the region will pass through the current period with more power, security and peace.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah – Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
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