Saudis try to counter Iranian Shia influence

I suspect that, over the next 20 years, this will turn out to be part of a significant set of happenings. And here is the nub of it:

The Saudis have their own area with a Shia majority -the oil-producing eastern provinces where 10%-15% of the population live - and are anxious to avoid unrest there. "The Saudis say they are afraid of the Shia but it's not true," argues a senior Jordanian. "They know the Americans will defend them and their oil. But they are afraid of the example that Hizbullah has set."

This intra-Islamic conflict may turn out to bring some relief to the rest of the world, ironically as it may absorb rhetorical and violent energies of extremists. Recall that Bin Laden is a Wahhabi Muslim, and they have little regard for the 'heretic' Shias, and vice versa, actually.

Saudis put their status on the line in bid to end Palestinian crisis | Israel and the Middle East | Guardian Unlimited: Filed in: Islam, Shia, Sunni, Middle_East, conflict, Saudi_Arabia