There are times when Saudi Arabia looks like America’s best friend. The Saudis are far ahead of most other Muslim countries in supporting the interim government in Iraq. They also have taken the lead in trying to recruit a Muslim security force for Iraq to replace the U.S.-led multinational force. The proposal, if it should gain traction, could give the United States a way out of Iraq. On oil, the Saudis have pleased successive U.S. administrations by calibrating production so that prices don’t go through the roof. On terrorism, after initial hesitancy the Saudis have been cracking down on cells within the country. Yet tensions remain. Many Americans suspect that the Saudis are not doing enough to fight terror, and U.S. dependence on Saudi-controlled oil leads to problems. The issue of political change remains a thorn between the two countries, as the United States wants a more open political system in place.Full Story
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