@ Love Uni:
The point I was trying to make was the exact opposite. Simply, that while taking advantage of their cheap oil, we’ve IGNORED those very things you just listed: oppression of gays, women & non-Saudi guest workers. If you read my previous post, you’ll see that I mentioned the fact that we did not “hold their feet to the fire” on those various issues throughout the 20th century. It’s not OUR FAULT that they were stuck in 14th century Wahabbism when we found oil there in 20th century, and it’s not nessecarily our fault that they are still, culturally, in the 14th century. However, after the big American oil bust of the late 1970s, I personally think that we should have dealt more responsibly with the Saudi royalty, by demanding that in return for our oil dollars, they must reform their country, and allow their people greater freedom. We made such demands of the Soviets (“tear down this wall”), and we sure as hell should’ve done the same, especially considering that MOST of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi. In short, if we REALLY want to stop the spread of radical Islam, then we either tell them to get their shit together, or we’ll drill our own (they can fuk’n DRINK it, for all I care). We WERE drilling our own, until the Saudis lowered the price of oil. They wanted to hurt the Russian oil economy, which they did...but in the process it got us ‘re-addicted’ to their cheap oil.
Here are some good reads on the subject of Saudi’s medieval system & how it contrasts with the techicsl modernization they’ve enjoyed through dealings eith western powers, if you are interested:
https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/saudi-arabia-new-leader-same-medieval-state
https://www.quora.com/How-was-life-in-Saudi-Arabia-before-oil-was-found
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/posteverything/wp/2017/09/28/yes-letting-women-in-saudi-arabia-drive-is-a-baby-step-but-we-shouldnt-laugh-at-it/