Saudi Elections

What to say about the news that Saudi Arabia will hold democratic elections for municipal councils? This is a step toward reform, albeit one of the baby steps we've seen in a lot of other Gulf states. The elections are a long way from actually taking place, and from what I understand won't even include all council members. To tell you the truth, I'm a little disappointed, as usual, in the media coverage of the kingdom's politics. Certainly terrorism and international pressure are one issue affecting the country, but another is the internal politics of the different princes who make up the Cabinet as King Fahd's last days come nearer and nearer. I'm unhappy with analysis that doesn't at least refer to both.