All these bold moves by the Crown Prince seem to make headlines in the short term, but stalemate after that. Qatar, Lebanon, Syrian rebels, economic reforms, ghastly military quagmire in Yemen... I think they are a sign of weakness and desperation. Status quo forces in the region and inside the royal family are blocking him and wearing him down. He's counting on his alliance with Trump and Jared Kushner. I expect that's a bad bet.
All these bold moves by the Crown Prince seem to make headlines in the short term, but stalemate after that. Qatar, Lebanon, Syrian rebels, economic reforms, ghastly military quagmire in Yemen... I think they are a sign of weakness and desperation. Status quo forces in the region and inside the royal family are blocking him and wearing him down. He's counting on his alliance with Trump and Jared Kushner. I expect that's a bad bet.