Last week it was reported that Saudi Arabia decided to make a "major shift" away
from its 80 years of close cooperation with the United States. The Saudi leadership
is angry that the Obama administration did not attack Syria last month, and
that it has not delivered heavy weapons to the Syrian rebels fighting to overthrow
the Assad government. Saudi Arabia is heavily invested in the overthrow of
the Assad government in Syria, sending money and weapons to the rebels.
However, it was the recent diplomatic opening between the United States and
Iran that most infuriated the Saudis. Saudi Arabia is strongly opposed to the
Iranian government and has vigorously lobbied the US Congress to maintain sanctions
and other pressure on Iran. Like Israel, the Saudis are fearful of any US diplomacy
with Iran.
This additional strain in US/Saudi relations came at the 40 year anniversary
of the Arab oil embargo of the US over its support of Israel in the 1973 Yom
Kippur war. At the time, the embargo caused quite a bit of trouble for Americans,
including gas shortages and long lines at the filling stations. A repeat of
this move, however, would not have the same effect on the US economy. Though
it would not be desired, these are not the 1970s and oil is now a more fungible
commodity no longer solely in Arab hands.
Why does Saudi Arabia insist that the United States fight its battles? The
Saudis are strongly opposed to the governments in Syria and Iran so they expect
the US to attack. It is their neighborhood, why don't they fight their own
wars? Israel shares the same position in the region as Saudi Arabia: it has
been fighting to overthrow Assad in Syria for years, and Israeli leadership
constantly pushes the US toward war on Iran. They are both working on the same
side of these issues but why do they keep trying to draw us in?
We have unwritten agreements to defend Saudi Arabia and Israel, which keeps
us heavily involved militarily in the Middle East. But when the US becomes
so involved, we are the real losers -- especially the American taxpayers, who
are forced to finance this global military empire. Plus, our security guarantee
to Saudi Arabia and Israel creates a kind of moral hazard: there is little
incentive for these two countries to push for more peaceful solutions in the
region because the US military underwrites their reckless behavior. It is an
unhealthy relationship that should come to an end.
If Saudi Arabia and Israel are so determined to extend their influence in
the region and share such similar goals, why don't they work together to stabilize
the region without calling on the US for back-up? It might be healthy for them
to cooperate and leave us out of it.
One of Osama bin Laden's stated goals was
to bankrupt the US by drawing it into endless battles in the Middle East and
south Asia. Unfortunately, even from beyond the grave he continues to successfully
implement his policy. But should we really be helping him do so? If Saudi Arabia
wants to pull back from its deep and unhealthy relationship with the United
States we should welcome such a move. Then we might return to peace and commerce
rather than sink under entangling alliances.