Regarding the connection between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia: ” ‘There have been and still are two pillars of the relationship: oil and security,’ said one senior American official who deals with Saudi Arabia. ‘Oil runs the world and the Saudis are the linchpin of oil production.’ ”
– Elaine Sciolino and Neil MacFarquhar, “Naming of Hijackers as Saudis May Further Erode Ties to U.S.,” The New York Times, Oct. 25, 2001