The problem starts at the Top.
Reader comment on item: What Riyadh Buys [in Washington]

Submitted by Erek Withee (United States), Dec 18, 2002 at 20:00

....
Our government is quiet about pushing democratic reform in Saudi for one very good reason. If Saudi Arabia became democratic the resources of that country would have to be re-allocated and more citizens would be getting money out of the oil fields. This would dramatically affect the profits of the big oil companies. Our administration won't touch this issue. We need to put the hammer down on the Saudi funding of the Madras's, which are breeding grounds for Islamic terrorists. We can never say that we are serious about fighting terrorism if we don't. The ex-ambassadors getting put on the payroll is just a symptom of the larger problem.

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