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Prince Salman's Euphomisms for Its Arch-Enemy, Iran & It's State/Government/Regime

Reader comment on item: An Arab Prince Denounces Islamism

Submitted by Ludvikus (United States), Jan 15, 2015 at 16:39

Dear Daniel Pipes,

As usual, another informative article by you.

However, in this case, it seems to me that you may have overlooked Prince Salman's sub-text,

which makes his position and views a bit less progressive than you imply.

As you know, about 300 years ago, the Saudi family, and tribe, made a deal with their theocrats which would give them the reigns of governing the Arabs among their midst in the Saudi penisula. It is this deal which effectively established, for them, the separation of Mosque and State.

And now, since 4th quarter of the 20th century, they had to confront another oil-rich Muslim state,

which has a difference with them no less significant than the Catholic-Protestent divide

during the Protestant reformation! The Iranians - in their Revolution against the United States, which arguably saved them from Communism about 1953-4 - who ejected their Pahlevi Emperor, as un-Islamic.

I'm referring, obviously, not only the the ancient Sunni-Shia rivalry, but also to the revulsion that Iranian Islam has to the idea of being ruled by a secular individual such as a King or Emperor - or President, for that matter.

In this context, "deconstructing" Prince Salman's discourse seems a bit less progressive as it seems - much of his talk appears merely an attack on the Iranian Theoratic model - which obvious put a heavy weight of implicit illegitimacy on the Royal Saudi House - as illegitimate under Iran's view of Sharia.

In summary, Prince Salman is mostly defending his future Crown against the Iranian Islamist attack.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

That the prince reached the right conclusion matters more for more than the reasons why he did so.

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Reader comments (42) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Prince Salman's Euphomisms for Its Arch-Enemy, Iran & It's State/Government/Regime [257 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
LudvikusJan 15, 2015 16:39220397
1Wrong Prince Salman - My Correction to Myself [946 words]LudvikusJan 28, 2015 16:30220397
We did not defeat Communism. [391 words]Michael SJan 13, 2015 12:49220336
1The problematic Mr Blair [139 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlexanderDec 27, 2014 00:13219969
Muslim Reform [97 words]y Brandstetter MDDec 21, 2014 05:22219889
4The West is at war with Israel, not with the Muslims [186 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Michael S.Dec 18, 2014 07:29219840
Not True [12 words]y Brandstetter MDDec 21, 2014 00:54219840
2The Samson option [462 words]Michael SDec 23, 2014 09:08219840
1UNGA voting against Israel [101 words]Michael SDec 26, 2014 06:04219840
3Simply put... [308 words]There is NO Santa ClausDec 16, 2014 08:30219798
Prince Salman implicitly includes Iran [33 words]mythDec 15, 2014 07:45219769
2MISANTHROPIC theocracy [24 words]Michael PolyakDec 14, 2014 15:31219760
fighting islamists [9 words]Egy1Dec 11, 2014 23:49219738
5Ideology: Ideas; Moderate [204 words]DajjalDec 11, 2014 22:17219737
2Yes, reform in Islam is forbidden by Mo/allah - no Muslim dare try it!! [54 words]JaladhiDec 15, 2014 15:08219737
1Not easy decision. [302 words]josef zuaresDec 21, 2014 12:32219737
Islam's focus [15 words]Mohammed Waza Khiddif Id'ullahDec 22, 2014 01:52219737
6Soon after the death of Sallam Ahmad... [262 words]Wasim AhmedDec 23, 2014 02:03219737
1Quranic Corruption [80 words]DajjalDec 23, 2014 23:41219737
2War on Terror [156 words]S R WakankarDec 11, 2014 20:21219734
4What the heck ...? [312 words]JaladhiDec 15, 2014 14:36219734
There is no such thing as "moderate Islam" [39 words]George KeselmanDec 11, 2014 17:38219731
8Another propaganda by Muslims!! [77 words]JaladhiDec 11, 2014 16:05219729
1Reform or Merely Revenge? [370 words]AlexDec 11, 2014 15:27219727
3call me skeptic..... [118 words]donevanDec 11, 2014 15:11219726
9Moderate Muslims? [94 words]Charlie GriffithDec 11, 2014 15:09219725
3Moderate Muslims - Oxymoron!! [71 words]JaladhiDec 15, 2014 17:08219725
2Radical... [15 words]ECAWDec 11, 2014 14:07219723
Qaradawi under arrest [53 words]Robert WerdineDec 11, 2014 13:38219722
9Moderate Islam: What is it and what is it's authority? [173 words]Stewart ShaneDec 11, 2014 13:01219721
More Mosques, less charities for the poorest [257 words]Chocoholic LadyDec 25, 2014 06:37219721
3What about Qatar? [48 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
RCDec 11, 2014 12:38219720
1Reform within Islam [12 words]Ilana GoldsteinDec 11, 2014 12:31219719
6Ban Sharia LawsI [64 words]Michael Hanni MorcosDec 11, 2014 12:09219718
appreciation [126 words]MAHAMUNIDec 11, 2014 11:52219716
6"Moderate Islam is the Solution?" [163 words]William JohnstonDec 11, 2014 11:10219714
3No Moderate Islam and No Muslims!! [97 words]JaladhiDec 13, 2014 20:04219714
4radical Islam is the problem and moderate Islam [9 words]HermanDec 11, 2014 10:44219713
2It's not a game of rock-paper-scissors [207 words]TL WinslowDec 11, 2014 10:17219712
1Maybe there is hope for mankind yet? [69 words]Maurice SoloviytzDec 11, 2014 09:40219711
2Telling God to shut his mouth II [94 words]Wallace SchwamDec 11, 2014 09:31219710
1Telling God to shut his mouth. Well said. [182 words]AnneDec 20, 2014 16:22219710

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