Recently we heard that Saudi Arabia would help the Sunni insurgents if the US pulled out of Iraq. Then we heard the White House say that wasn't so, but surprise, I don't believe them.
Then it became more complicated. It turns out the initial report was from an op-ed by "the well-connected Saudi analyst, Nawaf Obaid" which wasn't official policy and the Saudi's said so. "The Saudi Press Agency quickly issued a statement from an unnamed 'official source' saying that Obaid's op-ed 'does not represent any official Saudi authority.'" and "the outgoing Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki al-Faisal, terminated Obaid's consultancy with the Saudi Embassy." Then the New York Times and Washington Post reported that this was policy and that Saudi's told Cheney that on his recent visit there.
This week Saudi Arabia seemed to change its mind on tightening oil supply in an OPEC vote. That should help keep gas prices down. Also this week, the US agreed to release 16 Saudis held in Guantanamo. They will still be held in Saudi Arabia but it's not clear for how long. Related? It did come shortly after Cheney's visit. You decide.
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