By Zuleikha Ahmed
13:08:2021

James Dorsey, award-winning journalist and commentator on foreign affairs, provides commentary on issues in the Middle East.

Joe Biden agrees to declassify papers that could implicate Saudi Arabia and 9/11.

Relatives of the 9/11 attacks victims called on President Joe Biden to refrain from attending the 20th commemorations unless he released a list of documents potentially related to Saudi involvement in the attacks. Biden agreed to release some papers; however, this has not appeased the victims’ relatives. Will Biden choose to attended or be welcomed at events planned to remember the more than 3000 victims of the attack that changed the world is yet to be seen.

Russian power challenge in Syria

The town of Dirah was where the Syrian uprising began a decade ago. The Russians mediated a ceasefire in the city, which was supposed to be a model for returning Syrian control of other rebel-held areas of Syria. Dirah has seen renewed protests and Syrian attacks on the protestors, which has seen Russian credibility in Syrian questioned.

World Bank warns of poverty in Saudi Arabia. 

A World Bank report from 2018 warned that Saudi Arabia could face poverty as it is wholly dependent on its oil revenues, meaning that its GDP per capita fluctuates. 

After 9/11, Saudi Arabia’s GDP per capita was down by 100%, and it is down again presently, although not as high as before. Economic reforms will also impact the middle class the hardest, mainly by direct and indirect taxation. Another issue is whether the kingdom will be able to create more jobs. Considering these factors, the World Bank cannot make an assessment as the Saudi’s are not providing the required data, leaving the question of poverty looming over the kingdom.

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