Mirage in the desert

The Saudi monarchy's inept handling of post-Gulf War economic and political problems has spurred Islamist opposition in Saudi Arabia. Consisting mainly of the non-tribal, urban middle-classes, the Islamists represent groups such as, Islamic Resurgence, Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights (CDLR) and the Islamic Reform Movement. Political leaders of the CDLR, living in England to avoid arrest, call for equal distribution of wealth, independent judiciary, and a foreign policy sensitive to Islamic issues.