jayeff

By all means let's not forget that, although it is probably worth pointing out that it is hardly in the interests of Saudi Arabia to knock US foreign policy. Without it, the present regime would likely have been overthrown long ago. Also I believe you will find that after the pharmaceutical/health industry, the pro-Israel lobby is the richest in Washington.

US foreign policy towards the Middle East has been unchanged in three-quarters of a century. If Americans studied more than a sanitized version of their own history at school, it might not have been so easy for George Bush to re-invent the realities of that region. But obviously he had read enough history to remember Goering at Nuremberg: "Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."