Khaleej Times, from the Emirates, has two articles (both taken from international wire services) showing how politics in the Gulf get complicated.

The first notes that Saudi King Abdullah’s daughter (as per Saudi custom, name not provided) will be marrying Pr. Khalid bin Salman, son of Bahrain’s ruler. If you think this signals, again, that Saudi Arabia is going to stand by the Bahraini government during its political turmoils—and in its defiance of Iran—you’re right. The custom of intermarriage for political purposes is alive and well in the region, as it used to be in the West. And still is, actually, though to a lesser extent.

Wedding set for Bahrain and Saudi royal families

MANAMA (AP) — Bahrain says the son of the nation’s King and the daughter of Saudi Arabia’s Monarch have agreed to wed — further cementing ties boosted by cooperation to crush pro-reform protests.

An announcement on the official Bahrain News Agency says His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain signed a marriage contract on Thursday with the daughter of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
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The paper also runs a story saying the Yemen’s President Saleh will be staying in the Kingdom after he recovers from his injuries sustained in an attack a couple of weeks ago. Regional media have been all over the place on reporting Saleh’s medical status, from ‘grave’ to ‘rapidly recovering’. I suspect that his physical injuries are healing; his political hurts, though, are going to linger long into his exile.

So, does Saleh’s being parked in Saudi Arabia hurt or help the Yemeni people? It depends on which people you mean and their relationship to the president, of course. Does this make Saudi Arabia the good guy or the bad guy? Again, it depends…

President Saleh will not return to Yemen

RIYADH (AFP) — Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, being treated for shrapnel wounds in Riyadh, will not return home, a top Saudi official said on Friday, contrary to Sanaa’s claims that he will return soon.

“The Yemeni president will not return to Yemen,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

“It has not been decided where he will stay,” the official added, apparently suggesting that Saleh might eventually leave Saudi Arabia for another country.
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