Why is the US so protective of its relationship with Saudi Arabia?

[SoCalDem]

www.ironictimes.com

Question:

Why is the United States so protective of its relationship with Saudi Arabia?

Saudis are great ambassadors of democracy 31%

We share the same values 24%

They supply 90% of our sand 19%

It’s a favorite stop for American tourists 15%

They always seem so polite on TV 11%

[JackSwift]

1. Because without them

we will roast in the dark and never go anywhere? We are very beholden to their oil. Modern civilization needs the black goo. If it got up to six bucks a gallon, we could turn coal to gasoline and have a 200 year supply.

[AngryYoungMan]

2. Assuming this isn't a rhetorical question,

Because of

a) the relationship between the Bush family and the Saudi Royal family

b) halliburton's secret deals with the Saudi royals, as detailed in the (hidden) Energy Task Force Report

[Trajan]

4. Bingo ....

The Saudis WANT the report released: .. to clear THEIR names ....

Its the Bush White House that doesnt want this information released ....

Something about Bush, Arbusto Oil, a White Knight, whose name is on the report ....... A direct tie from Bush to the hijackers .....

The Halliburton, Energy Papers nexus is pretty strong too ...

[WindRavenX]

3. Why? Because of $$$$$$$$$

Bush will lie, cheat, and murder to keep the oil money flowin' to his buddies.....:mad:

[SoCalDem]

5. sheeez.. It's from the ironictimes..it's a joke

:silly:

But then we are all so pissed,I can see how people might take it seriously :)

[Shanty Oilish]

6. I wish I knew, and I've lived in SA

Long ago, and long enough. I've been around oil insiders most of my life and I still don't understand the politics of the US-Saudi relationship. FWIW, I think SA is a US puppet, a protectorate in all but name, and the real question is why it goes unnamed. Seems like if it were official, there'd be better rules applying, or better yet, we wouldn't be "protecting" them at all.
History will judge. Not saying it'll judge correctly...but perhaps colonialism is mutating in some weird way.
If I were more paranoid, it would be easier. Gnomes running things--- I could sure point to a few of those. But I have also seen many instances where powerful individuals are undone by the slightest of things, coincidence, mishap, timing, bureaucratic foulup. And there are so many players nowadays, it's hard to glean a single process in it all, or reconcile policy with practice.
Worse yet, not being paranoid, I suspect almost everyone in the oil business IS paranoid. My father certainly was, and that's what he told me. :)