The Economist does not think that Saudi regime is perceived by Arabs to be a stooge of the US

There is a beefy (or tofu) supplement on Iran in the Economist.  The worst section of it is the one about Iran's neighbors. You read this in it: "Since Saudi Arabia and Egypt have become noticeably less friendly with America, they can no longer be depicted as stooges."  Arabs are that dumb? They no more think that Saudi regime is a stooge of the US?