Just as Kissinger was leaving tre Middle East after his failure to negotiate u deal between Egypt and israel. US imperialism had the misfortune to lose its most reliable ally in the entire area: King Feisal of Saudi Arabia. murdered by one of his nephews.
The assassination of Feisal threatcarefully pleced together by the US -over the last len years. Through its of production, and its strategic geographical position, Saudi Arabia hat managed to achieve a dominant poston inside the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
At the time of the last off crise. King Feisal personaily took charge of the situation, refusing to go against the interests of his American allies The Saudi monarch's action neutralised the stand of countries ilke Algeria-to the advantage of the US The Pentagon didn't hesitate to give Saudi Arabia vast amounts of arms and technical aid—in return, naturaliy, for a share in the excraction of the black gold Feisal's second role was as policeman for the Arabian peninsula, along side the Shah of Iran. Not only did he establish a reign of terror in lus own country, but he played a major tole in maintaining order in the region His "advisers' are in the field today in the struggle against the heroic people of Oman, Feisal was also instrumental in setting up the reactionary Federa tion of Emirates, made up of a number of tiny sheikdoms.
But his role didn't stop there: a fanatical Arab nationalist, he gave fih ancial support to certain regumes ilke those in Egypt and Syria in order to bring about a reactionary solution to the Palestinian problem.
Feisal's personality was undeniably important in belping to establish his dominant position. A devout Moslem to the point of trying to hall all social progress in his country: the descendant of Bedouin tribesmen: the guard ian of feudal traditions-he succeeded thanks to his country's riches, in crea ting around himself a mystique which was vitally important in his dealings an the Arab world.
His death leaves a gap which will hardly be filled by his successor, King Khalid. The latter is a colouriess tip: ure, an invalid engrossed in camel racing, who is incapable of following in Feisal's footsteps as a distinguisbed servant of imperialism. The strong man of the regime will be the new Crown Prince Fahd who, however, will have to face an internal struggle against an emerging capitalist class which has so far been relegated to the background of events.
In foreign policy, there is su alter native but to continue on the course set by the assassinated king With the doath of Foisal, however, the US will be more and more inclined towards ens to undermine the political gains so reliance on the Shalt of Iran instead. And for revolutionaries, the fact that they have just lost one of their most relable allies can only be a matler for rejoicing.
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