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Comment by GabrielF00 | Hacker News Reader

I don't think the US "made" Saudi Arabia. My recollection is that the Saud family defeated their local rivals and established the Saudi state in the 20s and 30s, and that American political involvement with Saudi Arabia really only began towards the end of WW2.

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American government involvement began after WWII (marked by Roosevelt's meeting with Ibn Saud), but American industrial involvement began earlier, essentially bankrolling the fledgling state in the 1930's when Major Frank Holmes, under direction from Ibn Saud, offered an oil concession to Standard Oil of California only after extracting a large upfront payment from Socal.

This is true. The Sauds did conquer many surrounding tribes in the first half of the 20ths century. But without international allies, Saudi Arabia would never have been able to independently develop their reserves and have the wealth they have today.

It was the British who backed the Saud family initially. Towards the end of the Ottoman empire. They gave the Sauds advisers and military support.

No the British backed the Hashemites (the plot of Laurence of Arabia;)) the territory was split between the 5 sons of Hussein ibn Ali of which only Jordan currently remains Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and a few other regions that do not exist today were lost to secterial conflict.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashemites

? It's an easily checked fact.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Saud

Excerpt: "After World War I, he received further support from the British, including a glut of surplus munitions. He launched his campaign against the Al Rashidi in 1920; by 1922 they had been all but destroyed."

"Sharif Hussein bin Ali rebelled against the rule of the Ottomans during the Arab Revolt of 1916.[4] Between 1917 and 1924, after the collapse of Ottoman power, Hussein bin Ali ruled an independent Hejaz, of which he proclaimed himself king, with the tacit support of the British Foreign Office. "

Looks like the Brits love supporting everyone ;)

Yep. Pretty much anyone not Ottoman.

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