Brilliant article. The Ottomans had an empire that lasted over 650 years, any Saudi "state" was no match for them. At one point Ottomans were a major threat to

Brilliant article. The Ottomans had an empire that lasted over 650 years, any Saudi "state" was no match for them. At one point Ottomans were a major threat to Europe, reaching and almost taking the gates of Vienna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna (Polish knights saved the day and then some!) . The Saudis must've been semi-organized nomads, no match for Ottoman armies. Once, I think the Sultan sent the ruler of Egypt, Ali Pasha, with his mercenaries and truly pwned the Saudis.* But things change, or some think that they changed. Even today, SA army is not even a close match for the Turks, but money talks when it comes to alliances. Personally--call me a bigot--but I think it will SA decades if not generations to have a true modern army, not based on tribal loyalties and BS. Fun Fact: Muhammad Ali Pasha gained control of Egypt in the name of the Sultan as was customary. Wiped out the Mamelukes, after inviting their leaders to a diner (killed by Ali Pasha's soldiers.) https://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/mamelukes-are-massacred-egypt https://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/mamelukes-are... He became so powerful that the Sultan made agreements with him, he was almost no vassal and his family ruled Egypt until 1952. Now the soldiers that made Ali Pasha that great were Albanian mountaineers, that fought not to embarrass themselves and for spoils. Totally undisciplined, uneducated, headstrong and they'd no orders from anyone else but their local area chief. They'd kill a superior for an offense and all soldiers would rally toward the "killer". Eventually they became a threat to Mohamed Ali Pasha's power so he sent them to fight the Wahhabi /Saudis in early 1800's. Two birds with a stone. Here's a typical Albanian mercenary in Egypt http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Edli82/media/bWVkaWFJZDoxNTAwMjc3OQ==/?ref= http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Edli82/media/bWVkaWFJZDo... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali%27s_seizure_of_power#Al-Bardisi_and_the_Albanians_fall_out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali%27s_seizure_of_po...