We’ve always had a “special” relationship with the Saudis, and it has always been driven by oil and the usefulness of the Saudis in maintaining US interests in the region. The particulars of this meeting are interesting: It took place as FDR was returning from meeting Churchill and Stalin at Yalta, and, while FDR did discuss oil, he also discussed Palestine and how the Saudis could help with what FDR recognized as a developing problem.
I have no doubt that FDR, recognizing that WWII was drawing to a successful close, and also recognizing the over-the-horizon threat of Uncle Joe and the USSR, was getting his proverbial ducks in a row. It’s been said that Churchill was very threatened by the newfound US influence in the region, and there had to be a sense in Churchill’s mind that the balance of power in the region was shifting from the British to the Americans.
I bring all of this up because it illustrates a couple of important points. First, as gandalf astutely pointed out, we do view that part of the world through a Cold War filter. We knew as early as 1943 that we would have to deal with the Soviets at some point, and nailing down our strategic resources was a key issue. Second, we relied on the British “balance of power” strategy, as well as having to deal with the remnants of the old British order, including problems like Palestine. To that end, we got into bed with allies like the Saudis and have stayed there, for better and for worse.
I would be the first to agitate for a regime change in Saudi Arabia. But to what? And the Saudis have 60+ years of uncashed chits with the US government. When it comes to rendition and a lot of the dirty work, you can bet your ass the Saudis have been there with us, ensuring that our “needs” are “met”. The problem is that the Saudis are also trying to buy time internally and allowing Wahabism to be taught and proselytized in their schools. At some point, this whole situation goes critical.
Viewed that way, having a large “footprint” (to use gandalf’s term) in Iraq is a benefit. We have 150,000 US troops in place as a counterweight to regional powers like Iran and Syria, as well as global powers like Russia and China. Think in terms of the “Great Game” philosophy of the mid- to late 19th century. Then it is more like chess than checkers.
