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Article: The shores of the Gulf. (naval proceedings in the Persian Gulf)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- August 28, 1987
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1987 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Shores of the Gulf
THE CLASH of Iranian demonstrators in Mecca with Saudi security forces vividly evokes the worst nightmares of the conservative Sunni leaders of the Persian Gulf. The conservative Gulf states have long believed that the real threat to Persian Gulf security was Shiite fundamentalism, not Silkworm missiles; Iranian martyrs, not Iranian mines.
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates all contain large Shiite minorities subject to influence from Iran. Iraq's Shiites have remained loyal to their own country during the seven-year war with Iran, despite their religious leaning toward the Ayatollah. Whether ...