Thread by @KimGhattas

A must read by @gcaw on #SaudiArabia and #MBS who has been hiding from public view for 2 yrs.
"He has.. created a climate of fear unprecedented in Saudi history... "When he’s King Mohammed, Crown Prince MBS is going to be remembered as an angel.”

https://twitter.com/JeffreyGoldberg/status/1501517435366789129

Several layers to this story: the seeming inevitability of MbS accession to throne and the ruthlessness with which he rules=> how do saudis deal with it, how should the outside world deal with it?

The real changes MbS has ushered in KSA which we cannot deny and which have changed the lives of the young generation. => there is deep fear, many are in jail, tortured, but for thousands, if not millions, the new sense of freedom is welcome and long overdue. Is it a mirage?

As we focus, rightly, on accountability for Jamal Khashoggi's murder, because impunity in the Middle East, from Syria to Iran, from Egypt to Saudi, has destroyed societies, do we risk obscuring these social changes, denying young Saudis connex to the world?

Syria's Assad was seen as reformer right up to last minute in 2011, tho there is no comparing transformation in KSA with minuscule changes of Damascus spring in '01/'02. Assad family history was already blood soaked, dungeons full, then was accused in murder of Lebanon PM in 05.

At this key moment, re Ukraine/Russia, it is important to understand what is going through the minds of officialdom in Saudi. We are at an inflexion point, a la 1990 and Desert Storm. Like it or not, realpolitik is going to kick in.

In 1990, quid pro quo between US and region, meant Syrian troops invaded parts of Lebanon that had so far evaded control. US got a lot out of it. Syria even more. 30 yrs later, Assad jr still rules, with Iran+ Putin. Key for West to understand long term consequences of such deals

Finally read also @gcaw important piece on journalism and interviewing autocrats. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…