The future of Saudi Arabia and relations with the US

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Guests: Bernard Haykel and Toby Jones

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah died last Friday. He has been succeeded by his 79 year-old half-brother, Salman, who, by many accounts, is ailing. President Obama is meeting with King Salman today to offer his condolences, discuss the turmoil in Yemen, and the fight against ISIS and other Islamic militants in the region. Saudi Arabia has been an important ally for the United States but what does this change in leadership mean for the country’s future, regional stability and the relationship with the U.S. And, as the public flogging of blogger Raif Badawi demonstrated, what about Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record? Marty talks with BERNARD HAYKEL, professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and TOBY JONES, associate professor of history at Rutgers University.

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