Mv> IMHO, this did not start with George Bush the 2nd. It started with George Mv> Bush the 1st who stationed troops in Saoudi Arabia during Gulf war I. Mv> That was perceived as an invasion of holy ground. Even worse, those Mv> troops were not withdrawn when Saddanm was driven out of Kuwait. This Mv> eventually led to the 9/11 attack. The US brought it on themselves by Mv> systematically ignoring the sensitivities provoced by their global 24/7 Mv> military presence.
I have to modify this slightly.
The USA and Saudi-Arabia have a defense-pact where the USA will protect Saudi-Arabian assets so the kingdom does not need a gigantic military.
The payment for this service is in the regulation of the price of oil-shipments to the USA.
Like some years ago there was talk about blood-diamonds, it is time to start talking about blood-oil.
People in the USA also need to start understanding that ISIS and AlQaida basically are USAian initiatives badly gone wrong at a terrific price and cost.
Interesting, friend of mine is a female American military pilot flying freighters. When flying in the Arabian sub-continent, she is not allowed to talk to ground-based controllers as they will not recognise her authority as a captain. Also she is not allowed to leave the base without a long gown covering her head by herself, she needs male companions. She's not allowed to drive a car either.
When in the 1990-ies I flew from Amsterdam to Athens and the plane continuing to Istanbul, many of the Turkish male passengers objected against a female pilot and the crew told me that when entering Turkish controlled airspace, that female captain had to shut-up for the same reason.
As for Royals, I love Queen Elisabeth II.
When visiting the UK the Saudi king was invited to Sandringham, the private royal estate in the highlands. Elisabeth took him on a visit in her LandRover, driving herself. The king was abhored but had to shut up.
