May 24, 2003: America and its 'friend' Saudi Arabia
	If ever a country justified a regime change - if one were to apply the criteria that were used by the United States to topple Saddam Hussein - it is Saudi Arabia. Yet for years Washington has turned a blind eye because the Saudis have been useful. And now that usefulness is over ... America and its 'friend' Saudi Arabia By Stephen Zunes http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EE23Ak02.html The terrorist bombings that struck Saudi Arabia on May 12 have raised a number of serious questions regarding US security interests in the Middle East. First of all, they underscore the concern expressed by many independent strategic analysts that the United States has been squandering its intelligence and military resources toward Iraq - which had nothing to do with al-Qaeda and posed no direct danger to the US - and not toward al-Qaeda itself, which is the real threat. More important, however, it raises concerns about whether US interests have been enhanced or threatened by the cozy US relationship with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has traditionally been the most important US ally in the Arab or Islamic world. It is run exclusively by a royal family that allows neither public dissent nor an independent press. Those who dare challenge the regime or its policies are punished severely. There is no constitution, there are no political parties, and there is no legislature. It was under such an environment of repression that Osama bin Laden and most of his followers first emerged. ............... .................... .........................