ABSTRACT
This chapter surveys US–Saudi relations with particular emphasis on developments since the Arab Spring and probes the strategic expediency of maintaining strong military-to-military ties with the authoritarian regimes in the region. It argues that the irretrievable contradiction of making 'strongmen politics' a foundation for regional stability while calling for democratic reforms has led to the current state of the Middle East. Egypt and Saudi Arabia embody the 'liberal lies', which have been embraced by US administrations for decades. The Saudi-led military intervention by Peninsula Shield Forces into Bahrain represents the GCC's joint military force's first collective military action to suppress a popular revolt within the GCC member states. Since the GCC lacks any formal treaty obligations, nor was there clear and present danger to Bahrain's national security, Saudi Arabia's military mobilization and intervention against both the Sunni and Shi'a opposition to Bahrain's ruler Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa was aimed to prevent a feared Shi'a takeover.
