ummmmmmmm - just to interrrupt this little argument with a fact or two -- That is not really true. Though I don't think Gel's vision id right either.
In strategic terms, Saudi Arabia, though never colonized, was in the British sphere of influence; the British were entrenched in Iraq, Bahrain, Oman and the trucial states on the Arab side of the gulf, as well as in Egypt and Palestine. The U.S. official presence was minimal in the entire Arab world, and so was official U.S. interest. In 1941, Roosevelt rejected State Department advice to provide financial assistance to Saudi Arabia under the Lend-Lease program with the comment, "This is a little far afield for us!" The war changed all that almost overnight. http://www.ameu.org/page.asp?iid=261&aid=507&pg=1 During the second World War, the Allied Powers overthrew Reza Shah in order to have more easy access to Iranian resources such as oil, which was critical for the success of the British navy. Additionally, Iran was increasingly important as a route for the Allies to supply the Russians. With the obstinate Reza Shah in permanent exile, his 21-year-old son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi took over the reigns of power. http://www.internews.org/visavis/BTVPages/WomenHistReview.html In summary, they may not have been colonized exactly but both were subject to foreign armies at different times. >Yes, I see the balance. Post a picture and you deserve death. >And the total BS about formal colonial masters is just a bit too far. Your >telling me that Iran was colonized? Saudi Arabia was colonized? This isn't >Africa we're talking about, this is an area where conquering hordes have >fought Europe for hundreds of years. Colonial masters my ass. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:195831 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
