The Saudi Crisis Offers an Opportunity

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/opinion/letters/saudi-khashoggi.html

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To the Editor:

Re “New Saudi Slant on Istanbul Case” (front page, Nov. 16):

The decision to seek the death penalty for five Saudi agents reflects real fear among Saudi Arabia’s rulers that the killing of Jamal Khashoggi imperils future American support. The brutality and recklessness of that killing shone an intense media spotlight on the kingdom’s other, newly aggressive actions that are destabilizing the region, as in Yemen.

This has led to an astonishing convergence of opinion across the entire American political spectrum (except the presidency), raising serious questions about Saudi Arabia’s usefulness as an ally. The discussion at first focused on the need for American values to take precedence over Saudi national security interests, but it is those interests that are being recognized as also being under threat from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s policies.

This crisis provides a real opportunity. A determined United States push at this moment of Saudi vulnerability could significantly change the kingdom’s extremist behavior and priorities, to avoid any scenario that could threaten its royalty’s hold on power.

Indeed, this crisis should also lead to reassessing the benefits to the core, longer term United States’ interest that a less confrontational approach to Iran would yield.

Salim LonePrinceton, N.J.The writer was the United Nations’ director of the News and Media Division with special responsibilities in the Persian Gulf region, 2002-03.