Pen-Elayne on the Web

"This is a relationship that has been cemented by 40 years of money, power, and political favors that goes much deeper than most people realize."

Via Anne Zook I read this very good historical overview of how and why the US cozies up to Saudi Arabia (whence came 15 of the 19 September 11th hijackers). Anne is disappointed that the article "manage[s] to avoid discussing the Bush family's long-time ties with the ruling family...and the amount of money those ties have generated for the clan over the years," but I think the historical perspective is very needed, as it's important to remember that this has been going on a long, long time, and even I was shocked when I read depictions of the Wahhabis' intense anti-Christian (in fact, anti-anyone-who-isn't-Wahhabi) religious persecution.