I visited Jeddah, Saudi Arabia about thirty years ago. I will never forget the sight of thousands of ships anchored in the bay waiting to offload goods from around the world to supply the modern city being built. But, after leaving the city limits, I was flabbergasted to see an unending horizon of desert sands surrounding the city! There is truly nothing in Saudi Arabia but sand and oil!
I recall that the Saudi citizens were completely averse to operating and maintaining all of the new machinery and other systems that were being installed. They were totally dependent on foreign assistance. In fact, Saudi citizens all received monthly checks for doing absolutely nothing, simply because they were Saudi citizens. The oil revenue was just divvied up amongst the populace, with the lion's share going to the royal family. You could not imagine a more dysfunctional society! Yet this arrangement was allowed to continue because of the political and economic realities of the Cold War.
We've now been kicked in the teeth because of our own complaisance and obliviousness to the monster that we've been creating while focusing on other threats and concerns. The problems and dangers that Peter's identifies are real and terrible. I cannot imagine how the current situation will eventually turn out.
Based on the confused, cowardly, and treasonous response of practically half of the people of this country to this new threat, I do not believe that victory is assured, all of the political happy talk to the contrary notwithstanding.
What do you think about the above idea?