That seems to be increasingly likely, based only on what we know. I agree, there is much going on behind the scenes that we can only guess at.
If they ask us to leave, they will be caving to their religious clerics and the fundamentalist movement. That could buy them some short-term political gain at home, but it will only make things worse for them in the long run. The clerics will soon be powerful enough that they can simply tell the royal family to leave. Or else.
I still think the Saudis are trying to walk the tightrope of trying to appease the fundamentalists while keeping a western presence for their own protection. There's no guarantee that approach would work in the long run, either.
The only strategy that might work for the royal family would be to apply pressure to the clerics and try to dampen their influence in the country. Whether that's even possible, I don't know.
The House of Saud had better enjoy itself today, because it will take a political miracle to keep it power for another 25 years.
So true, the House of Saud has no friends left. The Saudis themselves hate them, Iraq of course hates them, and they are telling us to kiss off too. Don't know maybe they have a death wish? If so its looking like their wish may just come true..