>The value of US-Saudi trade is enormous. In 1999 Saudi exports to
>the US were estimated at $7.9 billion and imports from the US at
>$7.6 billion.
Yes, the Saudi-US relationship is important, but a little perspective on "enormous": in 2000, U.S. imports from SA were $14.3 billion. That's roughly the magnitude of U.S. imports from Brazil and the Philippines, and is only a fraction of trade with other countries. E.g. Mexico: $135b; Japan, $150b; China, $120b; Canada, $229b.
Doug