It goes back further than that, all the way back to 1940's and the meeting between FDR and the King of Saud:

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://...

> They eventually came to an agreement that centered around U.S. support and military training for Saudi Arabia, then a fledgling country surrounded by stronger nations, in return for oil and political support in the region.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/27...

Bitter Lake (by Adam Curtis) is a good documentary on this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRbq63r7rys

And learn who the guy in the red head scarf is:

http://www.almrsal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/king-abdul...

http://s4.freebeacon.com/up/2015/05/AP95102601735-540x439.jp...

http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gett...