Despite their deepening political divide, the United States and Saudi Arabia are quietly expanding defense ties on a vast scale, led by a little-known project to develop an elite force to protect the kingdom's oil riches and future nuclear sites.
The U.S. also is in discussions with Saudi Arabia to create an air and missile defense system with far greater capability against the regional rival the Saudis fear most, Iran. And it is with Iran mainly in mind that the Saudis are pressing ahead with a historic $60 billion arms deal that will provide dozens of new U.S.-built F-15 combat aircraft likely to ensure Saudi air superiority over Iran for years.
Even if it is unlikely that Iran would strike Saudi Arabia out of the blue because of Iran's general conventional weakness, it would be helpful for Saudi Arabia to have this shield should America (or Israel) launch an air campaign to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure. If hit, it is likely that Iran would retaliate by trying to damage or interrupt oil flows moving through the Persian Gulf.
Saudi officials have said quietly that they wouldn't mind at all if we smashed up the Iranian nuclear facilities. Being able to defend their oil fields would be a great help if all else fails and we have to send in the missiles and planes to damage Iran's nuclear ambitions in an aerial campaign.
Still, given our problems with Iran who we once counted on as our policeman in the Gulf, I worry about arming up a monarchy. But we don't really have much of a choice, I suppose. Not as long as Iran is run by the mullahs, anyway.
Really, it is hard to think of any problem we have in the Middle East that wouldn't be better with Iran's mullah regime overthrown.
