If the Saudi government were about to fall, would you support the US propping it up?

[NickB79]

Because make no mistake, we would in a heartbeat. Democrat, Republican, it wouldn't matter.

[davepc]

1. I don't know how long $200-$300 barrels of oil would sit will with people

[arcane1]

12. That part is inevitable

The Saudis are already throwing tons of money into offshore drilling to offset the decline in oil production on land.

The illusion of cheap and affordable oil can't end soon enough, IMHO.

[davepc]

20. Not worth taking down the whole world economy with it

There in lies the problem.

[yurbud]

26. how do you know that would happen? A new regime could also open the spigot wide

Before the Iraq War, one of http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2007/03/oil-too-cheap-if-no-iraq-war-says-oil.html">oil companies biggest fears was that once sanctions came off Saddam, he would ramp up production quickly, which would knock prices down.

[closeupready]

2. Would you?

??

[True_Blue]

3. No

[Poll_Blind]

4. No. Fuck royalty. Democracy FTW!

PB

[DJ13]

5. no

[hedgehog]

6. No - absolutely not. I'd rather see the money spent in an

emergency alternate energy program.

[tularetom]

7. "Propping it up" with what?

The Saudis own a huge chunk of US debt. They are among the worlds largest pushers of our country's drug of choice, oil.

Our human resources are kind of tied up right now fighting two wars in countries that had nothing to do with the Saudis who perpetrated 9/11.

We really don't have much power to prop any government up right now.

[Maine_Nurse]

8. I think BO would let it fall...

The Egyptian situation may not be quite as drastic as that scenario, but lets not forget that Egypt has the Suez Canal. MB control could be a a very very bad things there.

[annabanana]

9. I seriously doubt that anything resembling a secular democracy would

replace the Saudi family.

[slackmaster]

10. No, I would not support it and yes, you are correct that any US government would.

If we simply stopped buying oil from them, they'd, uh, probably sell it all to China and India.

:argh:

[Warpy]

11. No, even though it would likely lead pretty quickly to gas rationing

and a host of other major inconveniences.

The Saudis have suffered enough. The price they've paid for my convenience has been too high.

And no, we will not like any government that replaces the theocratic monarchy.

[blondeatlast]

15. What Warpy said. nt

[gratuitous]

13. What would be entailed in "propping it up"?

Knowing what evil fuckers are at the top of the heap of the House of Saud, it's reasonable to assume that before their greedy, blood-stained hands were pried off the levers of power, they'd use everything at their disposal. And they have a lot at their disposal. Weapons, mercenaries, money, all would be pressed into service to keep them in their palaces. People working for their overthrow would be shot, gassed, bludgeoned, bombed, and everything up to and including raped to death in the streets.

And if these tactics didn't work, and the insurrectionists kept coming? Would anyone want to stand beside these monsters, exposed for their inhumanity so casually and callously practiced?

The U.S. might move in (with what, I don't know), but I'm more inclined to think that we don't have any cards to play in this little game. Mostly, we're going to have to sit tight and hope it doesn't get too bad, which is a piss-poor position to be in.

[devilgrrl]

14. I'd support us propping up a progressive/secular Saudi government.

but we know that will never happen.

[Dappleganger]

16. Absolutely not, everything we touch turns to shit.

[Capn Sunshine]

17. Not sure I accept this premise of yours

I think the gummint might take a hands off policy

[northoftheborder]

18. No.

[Zephie]

19. Nope.

[HereSince1628]

21. Nope, let the princes fall where they may.

In the end, they'll need to sell oil to make their economy work.

Oil is oil and to have it in the market from a democratic Arab republic or a Monarchy makes no difference.

On the otherhand, propping up monarchies whose citizens don't want is a guarantee for trouble.

[obxhead]

22. No, but the thinking and desires of the people is irrelevant.

The corporations will do as they please.

[City Lights]

23. Nope! nt

[whosinpower]

24. no

But, if it does come to pass - it would mark a historic opportunity that the US would be fools to miss.

Events are happening fast now. Jordon is facing protestors as well as Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and others are lining up.

I have no idea how this will wash out in the end, but leaders AROUND the world should take note....it could easily happen to them. Democratic or not. The level of anger, dissillusion, is higher than our own myopic views allow for. And the vast population of the Arab world has woken - FINALLY.

[Phoonzang]

25. Actually, it depends on who it's about to fall to. nt

[yurbud]

27. if you listen to MSM or Washington, governments can only fall into the hands of al Qaeda

the only legitimate democracy are the ones we install at gunpoint (or pay someone else to install at gunpoint).