time (well, when Condi was NSA--he's head of the Security Council, a direct advisor to the King and possessed of a LOT of clout and influence). To the perspective of the Saudis, the Iranian President is the figurehead who carries water for the Supreme Leader (the real head of state in Iran) and the Guardian Council. It's a meeting of equals, because Midget Mayor does not have control of the Iranian Armed Forces.
This is Saudi Arabia taking the bull by the horns--they aren't dancing to our tune, we dance to theirs, because they have the spigot--you know, the one the Monkey said in 2000 that he could JAWBONE them to open?
Remember too, Cheney was "summoned" recently to speak to those guys--it's usually the junior partner who is inconvenienced by travel, not the senior.
I think the Midget Mayor of Teheran is there to try assuage the Saudis, who are VERY irritated at the Sunni-Shi'a crapola in Iraq, are determined to rein in Persian designs for enhanced influence over the region, and have no intention of ceding their hegemony-by-almighty-Petrodollar over the "ARAB" nations in their neighborhood to a bunch of 'craven, NON-ARAB, cultists who do not represent pure Islam' (that's from their point of view, mind; don't yell at me). They also will likely have something to say about Iran's NUKE program.
The Saudis are likely ready to shore up Syria to wage a proxy war against Iran's own proxy, Hizb'Allah, in Lebanon, if they have to, and they may be closer than we realize to setting that fuse off. The Midget Mayor is trying to put some soothing balm on the crisis. Good luck with that!!
Bandar has likely been instructed by his King to give Midget the (forgive the expression) "Come to Jesus" speech--soemthing along the lines of "You either play ball, you little bastard, or we, the Saudis, will set OUR proxy military" --that's US, we suckers over on this side of the Atlantic--we are the mercenary military of Saudi Arabia, you see-- "...on you, and there will be death from above--and we MEAN IT. So back the fuck off, there, you slimy Persian who does not have the grandeur and desert culture of the Mighty Arab, pal!!!"
That's how they think--way too many folks unfamiliar with the region think that because they live contiguously with one another, they're great friends, but they HATE each other, and each thinks the other are barbarians. They even fight over historical figures--this one was Persian...but NO--he was ARAB!!
A Saudi-based Western diplomat said: "Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have taken up the role of an alliance speaking in the name of the Arab world. "So Iran is making sure its views and positions on Arab issues are heard at summits."
Saudi and Iranian officials have met several times in recent weeks to mediate between Lebanese opposition forces led by Hezbollah, a Shia group backed by Iran and Syria.
Hezbollah demands veto power in Lebanon's government and early elections, but Siniora has refused.
The standoff has paralysed parts of Beirut and occasionally led to violence....The crisis in Lebanon and Sunni-Shia fighting in Iraq has led to fears of growing sectarian divides across the region.
....Riyadh has led a drive in recent months to counter-balance Iran's influence in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.
The effort has been led by veteran diplomat Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who, Western diplomats in Riyadh say, is very close to the US administration.
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