Since assuming power few months ago, King Salman has kept observers on their toes. In a short period of time, he has taken drastic changes at various levels leading the country to a new era of advancement.
He is bringing difference to every Saudi day. He is making his own “Arab spring” but this time it is from top to bottom.
It is evident that he has his own governance project that will involve people in the making of their country. In the past, our country has been subject to criticism from some “liberals” at home and from those who are raising hue and cry about civil liberties and human rights.
Aware of these attacks, the country’s leadership however knows that hostile circles are selective and hypocrite as far as human rights and reforms are concerned. They were deadly silent when many dictatorships were violating their peoples’ rights; and they are still silent while the Assad regime in Syria continues massacring its people; and when the Iranian regime is sending sectarian militias to Iraq and Syria causing death and havoc.
This is not to mention Israel, the pampered untouchable child of the West where nobody has the courage to criticize its over 40 years’ occupation of Palestinian territories and its ethic, cultural, political and economic discrimination against native Arab Palestinians.
There is no denying the fact that there is no ideal or perfect system of ruling in this world. Every administration has its own mistakes. And our leadership knows these facts. Hence, King Salman has started this reform movement, not to appease the West, but to put our house in order for the good of our citizens and country.
Water stagnates when it stops running, so are nations. Saudi Arabia has previously witnessed changes in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Kingdom during late King Abdulaziz rule. This time, the change is very radical. The country is facing threats from terrorist organizations at home and from the Iranian-backed armed gangs in Yemen and Iraq.
There are also some circles in the West who are unhappy to see the Kingdom play leadership role in the region. They are also unhappy to see a leader who is unprepared to be dictated by anybody. The king knows it is high time to put the country on the right track and keep it moving at full speed. This is the 4th Kingdom being made from anew.
The king has started this march of reform by ending chronic chaos. After careful diagnoses of the situation, he has started injecting new blood in the veins of the country. He knows that time doesn’t wait, so he put young men in the forefront to shoulder responsibility of the new era.
There were many analysis and statements, especially by the Iranians, claiming that the Kingdom is “on the verge of collapse.” This is mere wishful thinking and day dreaming by those who don’t want to see our country progress and take its place under the sun.
