That said, as long as the global economy depends on oil, Saudi Arabia is indispensable. The Kingdom has the largest proven reserves of oil in the world, which are more that 21/2 times larger than Iraq and almost 12 times larger than the US. Moreover, the Kingdom is the largest source of exportable oil. Although the US gets only about 10% of its oil imports from the Kingdom, the effect on the world economy remains the same. All oil is fungible.
Should the supply of Saudi oil be disrupted significantly by a takeover by Islamic fundamentalists from within or for some other reason, the world economy will be affected tremendously. It will make the gas lines and inflation of the seventies pale in comparison. We will and should aid the Saudis to keep the oil flowing. We have advocated a more participatory form of government (a majelis) and other reforms. They should ween themselves away from dependence upon the 6 to 8 million foreign workers who run their hospitals, oil fields, airports, and even pick up the garbage.
I don't know what you mean by modernization, but Saudi Arabia is a very modern country in terms of infrastructure. The roads, airports, port facilities, electrical generation, telephones, etc. are the equal of almost any developed country on earth. It is the society that needs to make the transition to the 21st century, which is not atypical of Islamic countries. It will be a difficult transition, but we have a lot invested in the outcome.
Cute you know what I mean. A mid-evil society with cars and planes is still a backward mid-evil society. There is no freedom there, nor can there be. No true islamic society can ever atain freedom. And thus always dissastisified people willing to join the revolution or fight jihad. Thus always the iron-fist rule.
Where are those oil wells, in populated portions of the country??? Can Saudi Arabia defend themselves from Europe and China/Asia?
Do you honestly think the world would allow their economies to falter? Islam is playing a very dangerous game and does not realize it. It might take down the royal family, but do you honestly think that the world will allow it to take down them also? Somehow I do not think that others will respect islam's holy land if it begins to affect them badly. You thought we got mean after 9-11, we have always played nice compaired to others.