That last sentence of yours is key. The US now is the top oil producer, but it's still useful to have KSA there to do our bidding- basically we can crush Russia

That last sentence of yours is key. The US now is the top oil producer, but it's still useful to have KSA there to do our bidding- basically we can crush Russia's and Iran's oil industry instantly, any time we feel like it. And our newer gas discoveries in the US will also let us control that market. Now, I think we shouldn't be supporting MBS, but I understand the logic behind it. I am sympathetic to the idea that if the House of Saud goes down, a bunch of our other friends in the region are going to be in real trouble- ie all the little emirates, Jordan, Israel, Egypt.