re: #1 The Ghost of a Flea

Saudi Arabia: Repressive draft penal code shatters illusions of progress and reform

They still like to sell us the notion that the Saudis are some sort of “moderate” Muslims (because their princes used to party with the Bush brothers).

Even after it turns out that Bin Laden and 15 of the 18 9/11 assailants were Saudis. Or that they actively promote the teaching of Wahabism, a highly anti-American, anti-Western form of Islamism.

All of which should make it clear that they are not at all moderate. They are simply currently on our side of many aspects of Middle Eastern politics, but that is merely a matter of economic interests and political expediency.