[Jedi Marksman]

Well, the Catholic Church propagated Christianity the same way in the Middle Ages, with all other faiths portrayed as heretical. That's what brought about the Inquisition and the Crusades(money was also a factor in that).

As far as why the Saudis are our "friends"? It's an association of convenience. They need security, we need their oil. Saudi Arabia will make or break any oil embargo and since they need American money they will never agree to an oil embargo of the United States like our good friend Saddam try to get the Arab states to do 3 years ago.