Gulf dictatorships

"The surviving octet of monarchies is strengthened by economic and strategic factors. Six of them export oceans of oil. All are close allies of the United States. In 2011, a record year for American arms sales abroad that were worth $66 billion in all, more than half in value went to Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy with no pretence of democracy. The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where British and foreign officers are trained, has accepted a donation of $3m from the king of Bahrain."