It would be nice if we lived in a world in which we don't need to make moral compromises. MBS is obviously a nastyish person. But Putin is a hundred times worse.
I want to encourage the Saudis to invest in commercial opportunities. That way they have an interest in delivering oil at a time when Putin is trying to extort the whole world. Not having oil means Putin is more likely to be successful.
Politics isn't about living a blemish-free existence. It sometimes involves taking least bad options. Until we don't need oil, we need it. Until then, things like golf keep them happy. I'll absorb the hypocrisy of that, rather than let Putin swallow countries whole.
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