5 Myths About U.S.-Saudi Relations

and the House of Saud

are too close for comfort.

An overstatement. Filmmaker Michael Moore and others are fond of pointing to the personal and business ties between the Bush family and the reigning Saud family. Unquestionably, the two families are close, in no small part because Saudi Arabia contributed to Operation Desert Storm in 1991, one of the highlights of President George H.W. Bush's tenure. The late King Fahd provided extensive financial and political assistance to the operation, and allowed U.S. troops on Saudi soil.

But there is little evidence to suggest that such support has led the Bush family to make decisions at odds with U.S. interests. All previous presidents have sought close relations with the kingdom, recognizing its value to the United States. Even presidents such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, who were initially skeptical of the Saudis, found themselves drawn to this relationship for strategic reasons.

4 Washington can call the shots

with the Saudis because the United

States is all-important to them.

It's more complex than that. Growing oil demand from China, India and the developing world means that others are pursuing closer ties with the kingdom. Chinese President Hu Jintao flew from Washington to Riyadh in April, despite Bush administration protests that China was "locking up long-term oil deals" with oil-rich countries.

Last year, Prince Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister, stated that Saudi Arabia and China now have a "strategic relationship," because Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of crude to China. Of course, Beijing will not replace Washington as the Saudis' key global partner. But growing oil demand elsewhere radically alters the options at Saudi Arabia's disposal.

5 The House of Saud

is about to

collapse.