[rhombus]

But the situation is more critical than it was the Shah's day.

And your point is?

[gondramB]

"And your point is?"

That in 1979 that the maximum downside was the loss of our "ally" and taking over the U.S. embassy. Khomeni decimated what was left of the Shah's army.

Today we are in a shooting war and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would have a lot to give to the other side. Pakistan even has nuclear technology while the Saudis have American technology and training.

So I think simplistic judgments in either direction are dangerous - we can't just say "they are out allies and it doesn't matter what they do internally" nor can we just say "they are dictators with poor human rights records so we have to abandon them."

But complex views and nuanced approaches tend to just get whomever suggests them attacked by both extremes who want simple solutions.