Traditionally regarded as a maverick, Syria has recently been moving closer to the mainstream of the Arab world.
Many observers are much more skeptical that either side wants it.
With the Lebanon crisis still stirring up some anti-American passions, two U.S. trade missions are hoping to slip quietly into Saudi Arabia and Algeria to promote the sale of some U.S. goods and services. An outcome of the recent Beirut tragedies has been a great solidarity among Arab-American organizations, which are concentrating on reducing U.S. financial and military support to Israel. American Jewish groups, on the other hand, are increasingly at odds with the policies of the Begin government. Sharon provided many of the answers to questions about the Beirut massacre even before the establishment of Israel's board of inquiry. The House of Saud is a useful and fascinating account of the activities, personalities and policies of Saudi Arabia's royal family, but suffers from some unevenness because it is the work of three different writers.