the saudi leadership is between the proverbial rock and a hard place. they cannot take on the clergy in their own country too forcefully, and they cannot take on some of their own people who have the financial resources to bear against the monarchy either.
the monarchy has created a very difficult environment for themselves...one could say they made their bed, now they have to sleep in it. however it is our country's best interest to have the current leadership remain in place as they are very much pro-western and do indeed oppose the radicals, most of whom are saudi citizens.
as for the weapons sale, in as much as upping the ante in the mideast by increasing the level of weaponry there is not positive for us or our ally israel, it's a damn if you do and damn if you don't.
does anyone believe that if we don't sell the arms to the saudis they won't get them?
if we don't sell the planes the europeans will. if we don't sell the missles the russians will. if we don't sell the guns the germans will.
we should take their $20B, give them the weapons, and try to keep them within the fold.
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