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Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside Sanaa University April 7, 2011. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies are trying to broker a deal to have Yemen's president step down and hand over power, possibly to an interim council of tribal and political leaders, sources told Reuters on Wednesday. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates talks with members of the news media on board a U.S. Air Force C-17 before departing Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 6, 2011. Gates met with King Abdullah and talked about the revolts sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, a recent $60 billion deal to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the threat of Iran in the region. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) talks with U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith on the tarmac before departing in Saudi Arabia, April 6, 2011. Gates is expected to consult with King Abdullah on the revolts sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, a recent $60 billion deal to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the threat of Iran in the region. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) says goodbye to Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al-Jubair after meetings with King Abdullah at the king's Riyadh Palace in Saudi Arabia, April 6, 2011. Gates is expected to consult with King Abdullah on the revolts sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, a recent $60 billion deal to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the threat of Iran in the region. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

Women take shelter from the sun under an umbrella during an anti-government rally outside Sanaa University April 6, 2011. Tens of thousands of people pressed opposition demands on Wednesday for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign, a standoff Gulf Arab ambassadors hope to help resolve at talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah receives U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the king's Riyadh Palace on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates boards a U.S. Air Force C-17 before departing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 6, 2011. Gates met with King Abdullah and talked about the revolts sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, a recent $60 billion deal to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the threat of Iran in the region. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, talks with U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith on the tarmac before departing Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, April 6, 2011, after meeting with King Abdullah. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

Armed forces rolled Monday into Bahrain from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help restore order in the strategic Gulf kingdom where protesters have shut down the financial centre. ATTN: No Audio. Duration: 00: 48(BAHRAIN STATE TV)

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) talks with Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid bin Sultan in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states have traded accusations with Iran of meddling and interference, especially over the tiny Sunni-ruled, Shiite-majority kingdom of Bahrain that lies to Saudi Arabia's east, and is a key US ally and home to the US Fifth Fleet. (AFP/POOL/Chip Somodevilla

Demonstrators pray during an anti-government rally outside Sanaa University April 6, 2011. Tens of thousands of people pressed opposition demands on Wednesday for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign, a standoff Gulf Arab ambassadors hope to help resolve at talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A woman rests while others pray during an anti-government rally outside Sanaa University April 6, 2011. Tens of thousands of people pressed opposition demands on Wednesday for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign, a standoff Gulf Arab ambassadors hope to help resolve at talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) is received by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (R) as Ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al-Jubair translates at the king's Riyadh Palace in Saudi Arabia April 6, 2011. Gates is expected to consult with King Abdullah on the revolts sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, a recent $60 billion deal to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the threat of Iran in the region. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

A demonstrator smokes a water pipe in his tent during an anti-government rally outside Sanaa University April 6, 2011. Tens of thousands of people pressed opposition demands on Wednesday for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign, a standoff Gulf Arab ambassadors hope to help resolve at talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Women shout slogans during an anti-government rally outside Sanaa University April 6, 2011. Tens of thousands of people pressed opposition demands on Wednesday for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign, a standoff Gulf Arab ambassadors hope to help resolve at talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A child looks at men praying during an anti-government rally outside Sanaa University April 6, 2011. Tens of thousands of people pressed opposition demands on Wednesday for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign, a standoff Gulf Arab ambassadors hope to help resolve at talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith, left, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates are received by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, right as Ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al-Jubair, translates at second from right, Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at the king's Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

Clerics attend a gathering to condemn the crackdown on the Bahraini opposition, in a seminary in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Iranian clerics have denounced Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia for putting down anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain. (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Sadegh Zabbah)

Clerics chant slogans in a gathering to condemn the crackdown on the Bahraini opposition, in a seminary at the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Iranian clerics have denounced Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia for putting down anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain. (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Sadegh Zabbah)

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith step off the E-4B aircraft upon arrival on April 6, 2011 in Riyadh. Gates is traveling in the Mideast for a series of meetings with regional leaders. (AFP/POOL/Chip Somodevilla)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith, centre, and Major General Robert Catalanotti, right, walk across the tarmac after landing on Wednesday April 6, 2011 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gates arrived in the Saudi capital Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah on coping with the political upheaval sweeping the Arab world, blunting Iranian efforts to exploit the unrest, and upgrading the kingdom's defenses against Iranian missiles. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, is greeted by Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid bin Sultan, on Gates' arrival on Wednesday April 6, 2011 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gates arrived in the Saudi capital Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah on coping with the political upheaval sweeping the Arab world, blunting Iranian efforts to exploit the unrest, and upgrading the kingdom's defenses against Iranian missiles. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

U.S. Defense Secretary Roberts Gates (center L) talks with Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid bin Sultan in Riyadh April 6, 2011. Gates visited Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and a major buyer of U.S. arms, on Wednesday to reaffirm U.S. support for a country that is a regional anchor of U.S. security policy. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid bin Sultan walk through the terminal of a private airport after Gates' arrival in Riyadh April 6, 2011. Gates visited Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and a major buyer of U.S. arms, on Wednesday to reaffirm U.S. support for a country that is a regional anchor of U.S. security policy. REUTERS/Chip Somodevilla/Pool

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, talks with Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid bin Sultan during a ceremony after Gates' arrival on Wednesday April 6, 2011 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gates arrived in the Saudi capital Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah on coping with the political upheaval sweeping the Arab world, blunting Iranian efforts to exploit the unrest, and upgrading the kingdom's defenses against Iranian missiles. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

The Arab Revolution of 2011