| bonzobanana said: As oil revenue declines I think there will be a move towards extremism. Muslims have an unfair tendency to blame non-muslims for their problems so any economic plan that prevents a lowering of living standards can only be a good thing. However rich extremist Saudi Arabian's have contributed to terrorist groups financially so its hard to know which way it will go. If they are poorer they become more extreme but have less money to pay for terrorism. If they are richer they aren't as extreme but it is easier to fund terrorism. It's probably a no-win scenario for the west. |
No one contributed more to the rise of extremists than the Western countries. It was a way for them to keep Arabics from nationalizing their natural resources and blocking Western corporations from taking over.
ARAMCO (Arab American Oil Company) was founded by American oil prospectors, after initially reaping most of the profits to themselves; the Saudi king at the time threatned to cease cooperation with them, consequently they shared the revenue 50/50. The movement was growing worldwide, an anti Western corporate sentiment and the backing of Saudi kingdom was the key to meddle in Middle Eastern business since early 1900's.
The influence that the Saudi kingdom exerted/exert over the neighboring and other Arabic countries were/are great, especially when it comes to religion. West wanted Salafis to help them crush the nationalist sentiments in the region. Enter the Wahhabism...
