(via Andrew Sullivan) An interesting article on the anticipated Arab reaction to US military intervention in Iraq. 

The "don’t-touch-Saddam" lobby in Washington and London has made much of two supposed threats.

The first is unspecified but supposedly explosive reaction from the Arabs. We can assure tem that there will be none.

The second is the claim that Iran and Turkey might seize the opportunity to grab chunks of Iraqi territory. For weeks Saddam’s emissaries have toured the Arab capitals to mobilize support for what Tareq Aziz has called "a resolute stance against American aggression." None has materialized.

The Arabs have even refused to commit themselves to minimal diplomatic gesticulations such as recalling ambassadors from Washington and London if and when military action starts against Iraq.

...The latest indication that Arabs and Iranians have resigned themselves to Saddam’s imminent demise came this week in official news agency reports from Tehran and Riyadh regarding Iranian President Muhammad Khatami’s visit to the Kingdom. Both said talks between Khatami and Crown Prince Abdallah focused on "the aftermath of military strike against Iraq."

What makes this doubly interesting however is that this OpEd is written by an Arab pundit writing for a Saudi daily.