The United States of America has helped the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop into a modern state since the Kingdom's founding in the 1930s. The two countries have been allies and friends for nearly eight decades. Now beset by an economic recession and multiple wars against terrorists, the United States needs Saudi Arabia's help. This book shows how and why the U.S.-Saudi relationship has evolved over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st century. In the four chapters written by five prominent American scholars, Why the U.S. needs Saudi Arabia explains the history of the relations between the two countries while exploring the current and potential future state of economic, educational and military-strategic ties.