Yes, I watched "Sand Storm" with interest (would have missed it normally but 60 Minutes was repeating stuff).

It sure seems that the royal family there is way out of touch with the true sentiments of the people generally.
The "special relationship" between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. was also a huge surprise though it does "explain" a lot of what's been observed in the last long while. The need for OIL in the U.S. seems to have trumped all things that the U.S. prudently practises in any other country.

While no reason was given, it was stated that the Saudi economy has been in a bad down-turn for a while, such that average income now is about half what it was 10+ years ago. That being the case it does follow that discontent will breed and that an outlet like Bin Laden offers could sound real good to many. That is surely the kind of thing that U.S. 'intelligence' would pick up on and look to address somehow IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. That they couldn't or wouldn't in Saudi Arabia no doubt let Al Qaida(sp?) grow far faster and stronger than it otherwise would have!

All in all I came away with the impression that the royal family is headed down a path much like happened in Iran, where religious fundamentalists took over very suddenly.
I also came away with the idea that special "friends" make for bad allies but the availability of oil trumps all dangers.

Jim
>Now if everyone in the middle east were to start referring to the U.S. as the 'dead sea' that would make me concerned! Anyone see Sand Storm last night on NBC?
>
>Tracy
>
>>Mark
>>
>>Having been called "the dead sea" since before Moses was around, one must conclude that being called "dead" is not necessarily something to worry about too much.
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>JR