Despite a mutually beneficial military-industrial partnership, U.S.-Saudi relations have been strained during the ongoing War on Terror. The U.S. has has not been convinved of Saudi Arabia's commitment to counterterrorism in the wake of 9-11, while Saudi Arabia has not been satisfied with U.S. efforts towards achieving piece between Israel and Palestine.
September 11th
On September 11, 2001, four airliners were hijacked from American airports. Three were used as weapons to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania. Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers were identified a Saudi nationals, prompting increased suspicions regarding Saudi Arabia's connection to international terror networks like Al Qaeda.
U.S.-Saudi Relations Message Boards and Blogs
Crossroads Arabia: [hhttp://xrdarabia.org/?s=Saudi+Arabia+In+Context Saudi Arabia in Context]
Google Blog Search: US-Saudi Relations
Westphalia: US - Saudi Relations Are Dangerous
U.S.-Saudi Relations Central Figures
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Saudi Arabi controls over 25% of the world's oil reservesBBC: Country profile: Saudi Arabia(April 4, 2008)
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
No popular constituency for the relationship in either country
-
Fact:
There has been agitation in both coutries to disrupt/sever ties
-
2003
The U.S. pulled all its troops out of Saudi Arabia
-
Fact:
U.S. wants Saudis to combat private financing of terrorism
-
Fact:
Important allies during the Cold War
