Saudi Arabia In Retreat Across All Fronts

Report: After One Year of Boldness, Saudi Arabia Now in Retreat

January Muhammad Salman declared end to “comatose” foreign policy 
end of year kingdom finds itself in retreat on all fronts.

• Syrian militants he supported looked unbeatable in Aleppo
• His generals spoke of imminent capture of Sana’a, Yemen’s capital
• kept Iran and Hezbollah from imposing their president in Lebanon. 
• spoke of bankrupting Iran by saturating market with oil
• Saudi ambassador back to Baghdad first time in 25 years

at end of year kingdom retreat on all fronts. 

1. ambassador pulled out of Iraq. 
2. militants in Aleppo on verge of defeat.
   Saudis bowed to Iran’s preference for Lebanon’s president. 
3. at OPEC meet Nov 30th, Saudi largest production cut 
4. let Iran raise its production to pre-sanctions levels.
   Yemen launching repeated cross-border raids 
5. last week declaring own new government
6. “Yemen Saudi Arabia’s Vietnam,” says contemptuous Iranian official. 
7. bleeding Saudis’ military and diplomatic prestige.” 
8. If Saudi leave rest of region, Iran will let it keep Bahrain

Saudi losing soft power, cutting funding to Sunni allies
Saad Hariri construction firm in Saudi Arabia in trouble because of cuts
Hariri has accepted post of prime minister under Hezbullah’s president

Egypt’s al-Sisi making overtures to Syria, Russia and Iran after Saudi cut free oil.
King Salman made rare trip to four Persian Gulf states early December. 

Iran needs oil at $55 per barrel to break even, says IMF; Saudi needs $80.
can’t sustain proxy wars they once could when oil was a $120 a barrel

Donald Trump further reason “Both countries are playing a waiting game,” 

JASTA, new law that allows Americans to sue Saudi for losses on Sept 11th 2001. 

tensions not abating; Saudi severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January
 

 My comments :  Donald Trump's silence on Saudi Arabia should be very worrying. 
January 20th is just 40 days away.  These could be the last 40 days of Saudi Arabia. Lets see what happens.