NahnCee asked:

“So we don’t think Saudi Arabia will collapse until they run out of oil money? Is that because the populace are so lazy and uneducated that they can’t be bothered to free themselves, or because America will prop them up, or what?”

Yes… The key phrase is:

“No representation without taxation.”

The al Saud dynasty have created the perfect welfare state based upon petroleum wealth (the socialist dream realized). The citizens of Saudi Arabia only need to be good Moslems, not interfer with their country’s management and in exchange all of their basic needs will be provided for by the state. Of course this sweet deal turns into excrement after the petroleum runs out (that happens within 20 years).

The US is quite happy to allow the Saudis to piss away their future (it’s their money!) provided the petroleum continues to flow. We and the Saudis are walking hand-in-hand towards the cliff’s edge.