PLN4

I read the article U of SA? from The Fischbowl written by Karl Fisch that talked about the King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia who is spending 12.5 billion dollars on a graduate research university. In the article Mr. Fisch wrote that the King of Saudi Arabia realizes that even though much of Saudi Arabia is oil but it will not always be oil. I think this is very wise of the King. He wants to bring some of the worlds smartest research scientists to Saudi Arabia to brightens it future. This is a great idea but because the Middle East is not the safest place for freedom of speech and thought it does not seem like the place a lot of research scientists. The Middle East, right now, is a place of turmoil and is not ready for a thing like this to succeed. 

Although this seems that it will be a failure it does show that there is a "downward slide of U.S. universities' dominance." The U.S. may not be the place to go to get an education now. This is the start for the rest of the world to increase their spending on education and realize the importance of education. The King of Saudi Arabia realizes the importance and the effects of a good education for both the present and the future. 

All in all I think that the King of Saudi Arabia has the right idea but the rest of the nation is not ready for it. The Middle East in general is not ready for this great university in a place where there is not much "academic freedom."