The U.S. is the number one oil consumer and Saudi Arabia is the number one oil producer. I found this article in the Washington Post and I found it to be very interesting. The United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a very unique yet misunderstood relationship. U.S.- Saudi ties started around the time of the cold war as both countries joined forces in trying to fight off communism. Since then the relationship has grown. The Washington Post article talked about five common misperceptions of U.S.-Saudi relations:

1. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and America is a bargain for oil.
ok yes, america is the number one consumer and KSA is the number one producer of oil but its not just about the oil.
2. Fifteen of the ninteen 9/11 hijackers undermined an otherwise strong tie between the U.S. and KSA.
ok yes 15 of 19 of the 9/11 hijackers were from KSA but this should not and in my opinion, will not effect the KSA/USA relationship mostly because Saudi Arabia denounces terrorism and anyone who has dealing with it. For example, Osama Bin Laden, creator of Al-Qaeda terrorist group is Saudi but he was stripped of his citizenship in the 90's for his terrorist activities. It was Osama's attempt to destroy the relations between the two countries but it was an attempt that did not work because the relationship remained in tact even if was strained for a while.
3. The Bush family and the House of Saud are too friendly with each other for comfort.
hahahahah this is a funny one. they are very friendly but thats what good allies do. does anyone say anything for the USA being friendly with Britain? (well yes but still)
4. Washington calls the shots with Saudi Arabia because the U.S. is import to them.
5. The House of Saud is about to collapse.
Ok, yes even though the U.S. IS the number one oil consumer and KSA IS the number one producer, this does not mean that this is the basis and only reason for their relationship. Fifteen of the hijackers were of Saudi Arabian descent. However, things were never really that great between KSA and the U.S. that September 11th ruined the relationship. Yes, they are an ally of the U.S. but clearly that did not ruin the relationship. The Bush family has close ties with the Saudi royal family because they helped father Bush during Desert Storm in the early 90’s when Iraq invaded Kuwait. However, their personal relationship does not have anything to do with the U.S. policy. In my opinion, I highly doubt Washington calls the shots with one of the most powerful royal families in the world. Yes, there is the Houston-Jeddah Connection. yada yada yada. But Saudi Arabia at times has even questioned America’s actual importance to them. They need us because a major part of their economy relies on U.S. money for the oil. The House of Saud is a very resilient family. They are not about to collapse. I do not really see how that last point has much to do with the U.S. relationship with them but they are not about to collapse. There are many princes in line waiting for their chance to rule of the most powerful dynasties in the world. In my opinion, America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is based on so much more than oil. Other oil needy countries such as China have tried to acquire close relations with the Saudis as well. It is not just about the oil. It is a strategic alliance based on wealth, power, social status, politics and much more than just oil.