U.S. Treads Delicately in Its Criticism of Key Mideast Ally Saudi Arabia

On Saturday, the Saudi Arabian government executed 47 prisoners accused of terrorism. Among those killed was Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Nimr has been an outspoken critic of the Saudi regime, and a symbol of resistance against its oppression of Shiites. When Nimr was killed, the Shiite theocracy of Iran became extremely incensed, eventually burning down the Saudi embassy in Tehran. This prompted the Saudis to cut diplomatic ties with Iran, followed by three other Gulf state. The sectarian conflict between these two highly religious nations has hit a recent nadir, and could signal further destabilization in the region.

However, despite reports of rampant human rights abuses and laws that allow for the execution of those suspected of participating in witchcraft, the United States has long relied on the Gulf kingdom for economic, strategic, and military assistance in the region.

Although the U.S. no longer depends on Saudi Arabia for its primary oil needs, the Saudi's still provide significant intelligence and manpower in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East. Thus, the two have entered into a partnership in which neither partner sees eye-to-eye.

According to Martin S. Indyk, the executive vice president of the Brookings Institution and a former top aide to Secretary of State John Kerry. "We haven't been on the same page with the Saudis for a long time."

Washington does not want to get involved with the Saudi/Iranian tension. "If you are asking whether we are trying to become a mediator in all this, the answer is no," said State Department spokesman John Kirby, according to the New York Times. "Real, long-term solutions aren't going to be mandated by Washington, D.C."

Accordingly, the White House has not publicly condemned Saudi Arabia for the executions or the various human rights abuses that have occurred during their important partnership.