Make the Saudis Need the US

Submitted by Samy Mikhail (United States), May 14, 2002 at 15:29

This piece demonstrates very good analysis, although I would never classify Saudi Arabia in the same category as France, Russia, or China. You stated that, "Saudi Arabia has been friendly to the extent that ... [t]hey provide oil and gas and in return Washington provides security."

The question is, we provide security from what danger? Since the fall of the Communist Russia the Saudi felt safe until Saddam came rolling over Kuwait. That is, when the Saudis came to the White House on their knees begging for help. After we liberated Kuwait and destroyed Saddam’s armies the Saudis felt safe and they believed they didn't need us any more. To make matters worse for us, instead of keeping Saddam as a threat to the Saudis, and consequently keep them on their knees, we went after Saddam, making sure he would never rise again. Whom are we helping here? We certainly not helping America. I would say: Keep Saddam alive and well, end the embargo, let him be strong again so he can be a threat to the Saudis. Consequently, they will always feel they need us to protect them, and we can keep the equation you mentioned, balanced and in effect. If we attack Saddam and destroy him, the Saudis have no need for us any more.

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