The hope was that Saudi would put intense pressure on China. Saudi - everyone in the Gulf - has no respect left for the USA. We trashed the neighborhood, turned Iran loose of it's fear of Saddam and have failed to do anything about Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. The prompt, extensive and thorough stimulus efforts of the 'Communist' Chines have revived it's capitalist economy while the feeble attempts at stimulus have left America ailing. The folks in the Gulf don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing. America is on the way down, can't even get respect from a nation dependent upon it, and a bad bet to back when it asks you to piss off China. Israel's slap in America's face got more coverage in the Gulf than Gates. Today's Arab News carries a story - with photo - of the first woman ambassador to Saudi on the front page. There is just a sidebar link to a Reuters account of an optimistic Gates talking of his success in the Gulf.