--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Saudi Arabia has historically attempted…" description: "\"Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.\" — Jamal Khashoggi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg" --- # Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence… ![“Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.” quote by Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg) > “Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.” [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Saudi Arabia has long sought to shape Lebanese political outcomes to protect its regional interests and counter rival influences. **In simple terms:** Geopolitical meddling in Lebanon Key Takeaway Saudi influence aims at strategic control Themes Geopolitics Middle East Power dynamics Foreign intervention Regional security Mood Strategic Cautious Analytical Type Political Historical Analytical When to use this quote - Diplomatic negotiations - Election cycles - Policy formulation - Regional crises Key Concepts Statecraft Proxy politics Strategic interests Practical Applications - Foreign policy analysis - Risk assessment for investors Questions to Reflect On - How does external influence affect Lebanon's sovereignty? - What are the long‑term impacts on regional stability? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Saudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi/) ## Related quotes > [I was a teenager in the 1970s and grew up in Medina, Saudi Arabia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/i-was-a-teenager-in-the-1970s-and-grew-up-in-medina-saudi-arabia/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I'm worried for a war to break out between Saudi Arabia and Iran, even though I rule it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/i-m-worried-for-a-war-to-break-out-between-saudi-arabia-and-iran-even/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Criticism of the Middle East should not be directed only at Saudi Arabia. Human rights abuses are happening throughout the Arab world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/criticism-of-the-middle-east-should-not-be-directed-only-at-saudi/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Saudi Arabia is the mother and father of political Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-is-the-mother-and-father-of-political-islam/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I expect that I will still wake up every morning and ponder the choice I have made to speak my mind about what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/i-expect-that-i-will-still-wake-up-every-morning-and-ponder-the/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Saudi Arabia must return to fully supporting the Syrian revolution and to ally with the Turks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-must-return-to-fully-supporting-the-syrian-revolution/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Many other countries in the region also have money and oil, but they haven't done much good with it - at least not enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/many-other-countries-in-the-region-also-have-money-and-oil-but-they/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [When I speak of the fear, intimidation, arrests, and public shaming of intellectuals and religious leaders who dare to speak their minds, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/when-i-speak-of-the-fear-intimidation-arrests-and-public-shaming-of/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Saudi Arabia is defined and represented by its Islamic stature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-is-defined-and-represented-by-its-islamic-stature/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [We are not a failed Arab republic, so we should not fear Arab Spring. We should embrace Arab Spring. That's what I hope Saudi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/we-are-not-a-failed-arab-republic-so-we-should-not-fear-arab-spring/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Corruption in Saudi Arabia is quite different from corruption in most other countries, as it is not limited to a 'bribe' in return for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/corruption-in-saudi-arabia-is-quite-different-from-corruption-in-most/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I don't want anything to affect my freedom, and we don't want Saudi Arabia to be another Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/i-don-t-want-anything-to-affect-my-freedom-and-we-don-t-want-saudi/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [That is what I want: I want a better Saudi Arabia. I don't see myself as an opposition. I'm not calling for the overthrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/that-is-what-i-want-i-want-a-better-saudi-arabia-i-don-t-see-myself/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## More by Jamal Khashoggi > [More attention should be given to the Arab world and the human rights abuse that is taking place every day in many countries in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/more-attention-should-be-given-to-the-arab-world-and-the-human-rights/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [It is good that the Canadians are raising the flag among Western countries to raise the issue of human rights abuse throughout the Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/it-is-good-that-the-canadians-are-raising-the-flag-among-western/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Everyone knew that Saleh and the Houthis were a marriage of convenience. He was a dictator; the Houthis are ideologues who want to impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/everyone-knew-that-saleh-and-the-houthis-were-a-marriage-of/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Women today should have the same rights as men. And all citizens should have the right to speak their minds without fear of imprisonment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/women-today-should-have-the-same-rights-as-men-and-all-citizens/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The Arab Spring is a true phenomenon. Embrace Arab Spring; embrace the aspiration for freedom of the people of Egypt, Syria, and Yemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-arab-spring-is-a-true-phenomenon-embrace-arab-spring-embrace-the/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The death of Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh shows that Saudi Arabia is paying for its betrayal of the Arab spring in Yemen in 2011.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-death-of-yemeni-strongman-ali-abdullah-saleh-shows-that-saudi/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I knew Saleh well, having interviewed and met with him several times. He was a professional Machiavelli, fluent in all forms for political maneuvering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/i-knew-saleh-well-having-interviewed-and-met-with-him-several-times/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The impulsivity of M. B. S. has been a consistent theme - from the war in Yemen to the wave of arrests of constructive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-impulsivity-of-m-b-s-has-been-a-consistent-theme-from-the-war-in/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Many Saudi clerics believe that letting women drive means they will be free to leave the house whenever they like - something that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/many-saudi-clerics-believe-that-letting-women-drive-means-they-will/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [We should not need to be reminded of the value of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/we-should-not-need-to-be-reminded-of-the-value-of-human-life/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Muslims around the world deserve to see birthplace of Islam represent the ethics of Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/muslims-around-the-world-deserve-to-see-birthplace-of-islam-represent/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Writers like me, whose criticism is offered respectfully, seem to be considered more dangerous than the more strident Saudi opposition based in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/writers-like-me-whose-criticism-is-offered-respectfully-seem-to-be/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I often get attacked in Saudi Arabia, but the critics don't ridicule my ideas. There were about 30 or 40 articles attacking me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/i-often-get-attacked-in-saudi-arabia-but-the-critics-don-t-ridicule/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The government of Dubai, as much as it is a government, it is a corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-government-of-dubai-as-much-as-it-is-a-government-it-is-a/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The core principle of Wahhabism is anti-diverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-core-principle-of-wahhabism-is-anti-diverse/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) [Explore all 75 Jamal Khashoggi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) ## More Beirut quotes > [Lebanon was at one time known as a nation that rose above sectarian hatred; Beirut was known as the Paris of the Middle East.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/lebanon-was-at-one-time-known-as-a-nation-that-rose-above-sectarian/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“Grief is shameless; it refuses to be ignored. If you let it have its way, it becomes fatal. If you try to remove it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeina-kassem/grief-is-shameless-it-refuses-to-be-ignored-if-you-let-it-have-its/) [Zeina Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeina-kassem/) > [Every time I go to Beirut, I see people and the quality of life going slowly from bad to worse, and from worse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-hamdan/every-time-i-go-to-beirut-i-see-people-and-the-quality-of-life-going/) [Yasmine Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmine-hamdan/) > [ In 1982, when Alexander Haig and \[Ariel\] Sharon put this plan to invade the south of Lebanon and Beirut, they imagined that in two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/in-1982-when-alexander-haig-and-ariel-sharon-put-this-plan-to-invade/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [Many of Islam's apologists insist that suicide bombing is not Islamic because the Koran forbids suicide. Mmm-hmm. So where are all the Muslims gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-glazov/many-of-islam-s-apologists-insist-that-suicide-bombing-is-not-islamic/) [Jamie Glazov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-glazov/) > [In 2005, the last year of his life, Ahmad Abu Adass was 22 and still living with his parents in Beirut, Lebanon. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronen-bergman/in-2005-the-last-year-of-his-life-ahmad-abu-adass-was-22-and-still/) [Ronen Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronen-bergman/) > [For me, diversity is not a value. Diversity is what you find in Northern Ireland. Diversity is Beirut. Diversity is brother killing brother. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/for-me-diversity-is-not-a-value-diversity-is-what-you-find-in/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [I knew Quintessentially was a success when my father, who does a lot of business in Beirut, introduced himself to somebody and they said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/i-knew-quintessentially-was-a-success-when-my-father-who-does-a-lot/) [Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/) > [For my generation - the "Children of Nixon," as I call us in the book - the Lebanese civil war was an iconic event.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/for-my-generation-the-children-of-nixon-as-i-call-us-in-the-book-the/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're \[riding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocker/i-would-retire-first-it-s-the-most-hectic-nerve-racking-city-imagine/) [John Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocker/) > [“In Beirut, death’s unremitting light shines bright for all to see, brighter than the Mediterranean sun, brighter than the night’s Russian missiles, brighter than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/in-beirut-death-s-unremitting-light-shines-bright-for-all-to-see/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [You can learn all about the human condition from covering the crime beat in a big city - you don't need to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/you-can-learn-all-about-the-human-condition-from-covering-the-crime/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I was actually lost in Beirut on the way home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-preston/i-was-actually-lost-in-beirut-on-the-way-home/) [Kelly Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-preston/) > [“I don't think I ever fully understood before now the old saying that goes: "A mother's heart loves her young one until he grows;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeina-kassem/i-don-t-think-i-ever-fully-understood-before-now-the-old-saying-that/) [Zeina Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeina-kassem/) > [“Do our dreams carry messages from the great beyond, sent by the people we have lost, or are they a reflection of our desperation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeina-kassem/do-our-dreams-carry-messages-from-the-great-beyond-sent-by-the-people/) [Zeina Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeina-kassem/) Browse all 72 Beirut quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jamal Khashoggi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted-to-influence-politics-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beirut" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted-to-influence-politics-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/jamal-khashoggi-9050_beirut_saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted_59739.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.” — Jamal Khashoggi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jamal Khashoggi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted-to-influence-politics-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted-to-influence-politics-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```