On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 15:35:52 -0700, Steven DeMonnin wrote:

I doubt it. If Saudi Arabia just wanted to prevent rebellions, they
could have bought something a lot cheaper than the F-15.

That article I referenced (If I could find it, I would post it.) made
the point that dictitorial regeimes (not specificly middle eastern
regeimes, this applies to all regiems of this type) have a different
military with a different objective than the militaries of the
democratic states. The military is mostly used to keep the most volitle
part of the population (single unemployed males under 25) under close
supervision.

Given the small size of the Saudi army, I don't think that can be
true.

They aren't interested in a military that actually shoots
at a forign enemy.

There are counterexamples, e.g. Nazi Germany.


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