Middle East Focus: Saudis in Denial: Expanded GCC? What Expanded GCC?.........

Arabia Deserta

Saudis in Denial: Expanded GCC? What Expanded GCC?.........

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

GCC leaders are already publicly backtracking on their insincere and silly invitations to Jordan and Morocco to join. Just as I expected, the GCC invitation (actually Saudi invitation) for Jordan and Morocco to join the GCC has been all but withdrawn. I noted here months ago that it is not a serious project, but few listened to my often-wise assessment. The Saudi princes were terrified at the beginning of the Arab uprisings and looked for a straw, that was before they decided to hijack and control the Arab uprisings.
They were not serious about it, given that they want to remain the big boys in the GCC. Now with Morocco apparently moving away from an absolute monarchy, and King Abdul of Jordan making similar noises, they are certainly out.
The Saudis now look foolish for forcing through the invitations. They will seek to save face by extending a limited membership status, or more likely a form of association. It won’t amount to much, just a symbolic gesture to make the Saudis look less foolish. But it is worth it to them: they absolutely don’t want any other state to compete with them deep inside the GCC.
Add to all that the fact that the Hashemites of Jordan, descendants from the Prophet Mohammed, were rulers of Hijaz, had been for centuries before the Saudis invaded in the last century. The Moroccan royal family also claims descent from the Prophet. Both ruling families are not Wahhabis, but they could eclipse the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" or "Janitor of the Two Holy Shrines", depending on the translator.

I have another suggestion: why not extend an invitation to Iraq? It is, after all, a Gulf state, has been one long before old king Ibn Saud of Nejd conquered the Gulf coast of Eastern Arabia and became a Gulfie.
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com