THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Saudi Arabia's traditional clout over Middle East politics appears to be on the rebound with the weekend election victory of its political allies in Lebanon, after years of frustration in Riyadh over Iran's regional ascendancy.
Invigorated Saudi influence could be important to the Obama administration's emerging strategy on Middle East peace.
The staunch U.S. ally is seen in Washington as perhaps the only regional powerhouse that can bring unruly Arab neighbors, in particular Syria, into line with the U.S. goal of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal.
Both Riyadh and Washington believe that checking Iran's recently rising regional influence is a key element. Saudi officials could get another big boost if Iranian voters toss out hard-line conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
For now, Saudi officials are savoring the weekend election victory in Lebanon of the so-called March 14 alliance. The Western-leaning bloc held on to its parliamentary majority, despite some polls predicting gains by an opposition coalition headed by Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
"The vacuum of power among the Arabs has finally been filled. We can see that the balance is tipping in our favor," said one Saudi diplomat.
Saudi Arabia was a key player in ending the civil war in Lebanon in 1989, but its influence there waned after the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a billionaire who made his fortune as a contractor for the Saudi royal family.
Since then, the Saudis have openly intervened on behalf of the government dominated by Mr. Hariri's party. It has pledged $1.5 billion to prop up the country's currency and to help rebuilding efforts after the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Opposition politicians in Lebanon accused Saudi Arabia of funneling money into the campaigns of politicians running alongside Mr. Hariri's son, Saad, who is now in the running to become Lebanon's next prime minister. Saudi officials have denied interference.
Influential Saudi-owned regional media outlets, however, waged their own public-relations campaign, warning in Lebanon of a looming crisis should Hezbollah and its allies win.
After the elections, Saudi's King Abdullah sent congratulations to the Lebanese people for their "successful" elections.
Tariq Alhomayed, editor of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, owned by a brother of the king, went further, declaring in an editorial that the results showed "the fall of the Iranian project" in Lebanon. >>> Margaret Coker | Friday, June 12, 2009
