Well, I guessed that wrong!

The speech King Abdullah delivered to the Shoura Council on Saturday was long on rhetoric but short on substance, at least as reported in this Arab News piece. Perhaps there’s something more to come later, but this speech is a bit disappointing as it only goes to aspirations, not strategies to reach them.

‘Sectarianism Weakens Unity’
Raid Qusti, Arab News

RIYADH, 15 April 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday called on the citizens to preserve the country’s national unity and reinforce its structure, saying that sectarian disputes, tribal preferences and putting one sector above another were not only against Islam but were “a threat to national unity and the security of the state.”

Addressing 150 Shoura Council members, the Kingdom’s ministers and senior officials as well as a number of ambassadors, King Abdullah gave the annual speech to outline the country’s domestic and international policies and strategies.

King Abdullah reiterated his oath to serve the interests of the people of Saudi Arabia, asking the Almighty to guide him.

He stressed the importance of social unity in preserving national unity. He mentioned that every citizen had a role in social development, urging them to bond with one another and serve their country with loyalty and honesty.