Supposedly some in the SA armed forces and police are sympathetic to Al Queda. On their terrorist head-cutting off web site, they mentioned that they got uniforms and police cars from sympathizers and this is how they waylaid the hapless American guy - at a false “checkpoint”.
This is bad.
So what do we do if Al Queda takes them over? They’ll be sitting on a honey pot of $120 billion a year in oil revenue. Although, now that I think about it, since they hate Westerners so much, good luck running the oil fields without their (our) help.
Would we, could we, should we take over their stupid country, maybe man the oil fields, keep the oil pumping and set aside some of the money for the citizens of Saudi Arabia? Do we take over the country and re-install the Saud family, which would probably be ready to kick some serious Wahhibi behind? Or do we just say the hell with it let them have it and the oil fields?
Just for reference, Saudi Arabia has about 1/4 of the world’s known reserves. IT also pumps about 8 million barrels a day, which is about 10% of the world’s supply. Take that supply off the market and oil is $100 or so easily, I would think. There is no other country that could take up the slack. Not even close. OPEC and the rest of the world’s oil wells are pretty much pumping flat out right now.
If the supply isn’t off the market then Al-Queda gets 3 billion barrels per year * whatever the price is. This would be a large slush fund to buy whatever weapons they desired.