On January 2, 2016, our great ally, the Saudi government, cut the heads off 47 prisoners, including the revered Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Shiite Iran was none too pleased. Tensions between them are at an all time high. Guest on this who Patrick Lawrence, foreign affairs columnist for Salon, explains why the Obama Administration was tongue-tied about the Saudi atrocity. The new king, Salman, is far more aggressive than his father, Abdullah. Is any nation in the regfion serious about fighting the Islamic State? What would be a more realistic US policy. Give a listen.