Editorial: Smear campaign against Kingdom

At one time or another, every country finds itself the subject of generally politically inspired international media criticism. But gone are the Cold War days when the narrative on both sides of the iron curtain was very largely mere propaganda. The world has moved on. Or has it?
Saudi Arabia now finds itself the target of same sort of contemptuous and denigrating campaign. Apparently, those waging this smear campaign find nothing good in the Kingdom. They think everything is wrong.
In fact the intensity of the anti-Saudi media campaign in Europe and America has been stunning. For Saudis and every sensible person the initial response is shock. What has suddenly changed to turn one of the America and Europe’s most loyal and thoughtful allies into an object of virulent criticism?
The Kingdom has acted decisively in Yemen to halt the Houthi rebellion. Its action was applauded loudly in Washington. In the wider scheme of things, Saudi Arabia has given leadership to its fellow Gulf states in the face of rising interference by Iran. It has rendered massive support to Syrian refugees at a time when the international community failed to give the UN relief agencies sufficient funding. The Kingdom is also a major customer for American and European companies buying highly advanced technology in every sector. In oil and gas, Saudi Arabia has long acted as a highly responsible “swing producer” acting in the best interests of the global economy.
Politicians around the world have lauded these achievements. They have also accepted the conservative values which underpin the Kingdom’s strength. Only once in a while has a rising or failing politician desperately sought media attention with critical sound bites about life in Saudi Arabia. Hardly ever has anyone sought to condemn the responsible and statesmanlike role the Kingdom has played in international and regional politics. Not the least of this has been the King Abdullah peace plan. This has been acknowledged by everyone except the Israelis, as the best foundation for a Palestinian settlement.
Yet suddenly the media knives are out for the Saudis. Why? Is there a conspiracy? By and large the great Western newspapers and broadcasters loudly boast their independence. They claim to tell it like it is. But people should not be fooled. When it comes to international politics, top editors can be invited to convivial dinner parties where senior government figures will, off the record of course, set out their particular policy concerns.
It only takes a few respected commentators to raise a subject. Thereafter the herd mentality of the rest of the media kicks in. Suddenly an issue that was hardly thought about at all is front page news.
But why would the Americans and Europeans be briefing against the Kingdom? Could it be that Saudis remain very publicly skeptical of the nuclear deal that Washington and the rest of the West have cut with Iran? The minute sanctions are removed, Iran will redouble its meddling in the Arab world. It will also welsh on the nuclear inspection commitments. This, even though, under the deal, it will be free to resume its nuclear weaponization in just 15 years.
Could it also be that Saudi diplomats have long warned that by making Iran a special case, the deal drives a coach and horses through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Tehran is a signatory? From here on in, a treaty which for decades helped to keep the world safe from nuclear war, is a dead letter.
The Iranian press is loud in its denunciation of the Kingdom and its Gulf allies. These media attacks on the leading country in the Arab world border on racism. This is in marked contrast to the moderate attitude of the Saudi media toward Iran. Saudi Arabia has always said it has no quarrel with the Iranian people. It wants close and neighborly ties. The disputes lie with the Iranian government. Tehran is intent on saber-rattling abroad as a way of diverting the attention of its people from its social and economic failures at home.
Given that the Kingdom stands between Iran and the regional hegemony of which its leaders dream, the poisonous attacks by the country’s media, though highly disgusting, are something expected of them. But, it is quite the opposite with US and European commentators. Their assaults are irrational and deeply unfair. The suspicion has to be that these governments fear the reasoned and accurate assessment the Kingdom is using to expose the folly of the Iranian nuclear deal. So rather than listen, they have encouraged their media to try and shoot the messenger.