Why are we friends with Saudi Arabia?

15 of the 19 hi-jackers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia was a rich fund-raising ground for al Qaeda (for 9/11) Source

In 2003 it was learned that Saudi Arabia was looking to buy a Nuke. Source

It was reported that 55% of foreign fighters who have been killed in Iraq were from Saudi Arabia. Source

And then, in 2007, we decided we should sell $20,000,000,000 worth of weaponry to Saudi Arabia Source

Now, in 2008 France wants to help them develop Nuclear Energy... Source

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So... why are we still friends with Saudi Arabia? If it's all about oil, then what does that say about our relationship with Iran... and Iraq?

It is about oil.

Our alliance with the Saudis was forged during FDR's administration. In exchange for access to their newly discovered oil fields, FDR promised the House of Saud the protection of the United States.

As for why we are still friends with them, oil makes the world go round. People say with a sneer that Americans are addicted to oil, but it's not as simple as that. Oil is the world's blood, and as things currently stand, without it we would shrivel up and die.

we're friends with Saudi Arabia for the oil and because their the only arab country that will even pretend to like us. The royalty in Saudi Arabia is corrupt, so we can hold them by their purse strings.

We can't not be friends with them. Their our only outlet into the middle east, besides Israel but that's nearly useless. Maybe the new Iraqi gov. (assuming it survives) will be more friendly, but that's nothing to hope for.

oil probably strategy in every major iraq offensive. you can't blame all of suadi arabia because the 9/11 bombers were from there. however the idea that islamics think it is our responsibility to ensure the survival of their country is wrong even bin laden agrees. I was watching a documentary or bits and pieces of what I could take of Charlie Wilson and how the CIA help the afgans defeat russia. however most of the taliban al-quida propaganda forged from it.

If you spend even 10 minutes reading the 9/11 forum you will find out that the claims about the hijackers are all lies and quite possibly not even one of them came from Saudi Arabia.

That, being said, the REAL question is why are we friends with Israel? Israel has done jack squat for America and causes all kinds of instability in the region. And yet, they are by far the #1 recipient of American foreign aid.

Why are we friends with Saudi Arabia?

because you love to drive big gas guzzling cars. Period.

Bit late to claim ethics or morality.

Its alliances like the one between the US and Saudi Arabia that have made America back farther and farther away from the moral high ground it used to stand. We can never complain about human rights, womens rights, religious freedom, basically all the things America stood for and that made it a beacon of light for the world, because we a best buds with a nation that is completely against all those things.