New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- The language of diplomats is polite. That is especially true for those who speak Arabic, a tongue inclined towards courtesies and honorifics. In December the Saudi foreign ministry issued a five-paragraph statement that used the term shaqiqa ("brotherly") four times in reference to the United Arab Emirates (uae). The fraternal tone was rather at odds with the subject matter: the kingdom had just bombed an Emirati weapons shipment in Yemen and was accusing the uae of threatening its national security.

Almost two months later, no one is bothering with such niceties. The Gulf's biggest powers are mired in a worsening spat. Top officials barely speak. State-backed propagandists have been unleashed to attack each other. ...