The new Saudis

SAUDI ARABIA’S rulers have long wielded their influence discreetly. They used petro-dollars to buy stability at home, tame governments abroad and spread a puritanical brand of Islam. But now, amid the violent mess of the Middle East and their growing rivalry with Iran, the Saudis are acting with uncharacteristic boldness across the whole range of domestic, foreign and economic policies. Whether by design or default, they stand out as the leading force in the Arab world.Arabs badly need modern, dynamic leaders. But much of what the new Saudi rulers are doing looks like a rash gamble rather than an attempt to deal with the real problems of their country, let alone the region. If Saudi leadership is to work well, then it needs to take a different form.