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I don't know that too many people believe the Saudis are our friends. Sure some may say so publicly but that's politics not real life. The simple fact is that we have few options in dealing with Saudi Arabia. They have vast political influence around the world and especially in the Middle East. We can not invade them, sanction them, or cut off diplomatic relations with them without causing counterproductive havoc.
Hopefully a growing democracy next door in Iraq will help push their society away from extremism but there isn't too much, in the short term, we can do to exert pressure on them.
And, for those who think we can get away from dependence on foreign oil (I know it hasn't been mentioned here yet, but I have faith that someone would/will bring it up), even if we cut our ties to crude, how will we cut all of our trading partners' dependence?
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Strive to be more curious than ignorant.
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