[oldvike]

That's an interesting little theory of yours. I wonder what the war in Iraq will really do to the SA monarchy internally? Your answer might be right. However, I tend to think it will only unite the Saudi people (even more than now) against us. Guess we'll find out in a few months. Either way, the Saudis will not (well, at least they "should not") be our "friends" anymore.

[rintense]

Oh I agree. And for all the public butt kissing, I think there are several in the Bush admin who don't trust them- including Dubya. This is why the oil agreement with Russia signed earlier this year is so important. It may be a few years before Russia can develop an infrastructure to support massive oil exports, but it is showing our need to lessen dependency on Mideast oil (and could also be an indicator of a few years of instability.)