I don't like it but without SA, what allies does the US even have in the area?
I wish Iraq would have turned out differently.
I wish Iraq would have turned out differently.
Egypt, Israel, Kuwait and Qatar. Less reliably: Jordan, the U.A.E. and Turkey. Not great, but not untenable.
Saudi Arabia's GDP is worth double and quadruple those, respectively. However, that number isn't so far ahead as to be irreplaceable.
Relationships change, too. The movement in Iran now has the West's popular interest and support.
> I wish Iraq would have turned out differently.
US doesn't have allies, like every empire it has interests. Sometimes this interests overlap with other entities (be it countries, or not). This interests can be long term, but sooner or later interests change and suddenly entities no longer have any support ( or become enemies). And US have no qualms doing so.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/American_Empire
https://warontherocks.com/2015/08/is-america-an-empire/
There's lots of things pointing towards USA being considered an empire. It is of course open to debate.
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Wars
2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_sovereignty_in_the_Unit...
I was wondering if five eyes could be counted as allies, but...
Yes? Is this in question? Obviously. That doesn’t make human rights irrelevant.