Elephant In Exile

Elephant's been reflecting on the growing turmoil in Saudi Arabia and had the following thought. Does anyone see a parallel between Saudi Arabia today and Iran in the years leading up to the 1979 Islamic revolution? Think about it. In the 1970s we were supporting the iron fisted rule of the Shaw, which led to an uprising fueled by Islamic fundamentalism. Now we continue to support a dicticorial regime that increasingly isn't supported by its subjects. If the Saudi's do nothing, they face a growing insurgency, if they make democratic reforms the voters could elect a fundamentalist government. Stuck between a a rock and a hard place. Could the U.S., with our military stretched too thin as it is, be able to ward off a radical Saudi government? Could our economy absorb $150 per barrel oil costs? Anyway, just thinking.....