Quote Originally Posted by Bob's World View Post
If we are PNG'd by a revolutionary government in Saudi Arabia we will not have the same options. In fact, we will be much like the Brits were when they were PNG'd by Iran in the early 50s.
We could shrug our shoulders, recall that we buy Saudi Oil not because we must but because it was cheap at one time -- and then and now it enables us to keep a nominal economic interest for blundering about in the region. We could easily get by with no middle eastern oil.

The real question is whether we need to keep blundering there. We could also easily get by with no middle eastern turmoil...
It is my opinion that "friendly despots" are obsolete. (and like "friendly fire," are not all that "friendly" either).
Agree they are obsolete and that they aren't really friendly -- but then, neither are we...