Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Dead at 90

American politicians and mainstream media are falling all over themselves praising the late Saudi King Abdullah.

King Abdullah was a man of wisdom & vision. US has lost a friend & Kingdom of #SaudiArabia, Middle East, and world has lost a revered leader

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) January 23, 2015

I extend my deepest condolences to ppl of #SaudiArabia on passing of King Abdullah. My stmt: http://t.co/gcbHX4NJAO #KSA

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) January 23, 2015

President Obama on the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. pic.twitter.com/8wXmZp6EGU

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 23, 2015

" Wolf Blitzer and Fareed Zakaria are almost as devastated as the sons of the King" http://t.co/8DGKRxnLDC

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 23, 2015

Other Western leaders are singing from the same hymn sheet.

UK orders flags flown at half-mast for King Abdullah. Will return to lecturing the world about democracy tomorrow https://t.co/cebtl55gem

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 23, 2015

IMF chief @Lagarde hails Saudi King Abdullah a 'strong advocate of women' – watch http://t.co/TFQuaRoOML #c4news pic.twitter.com/rQ2oLmMXmm

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 23, 2015

Obituary: Saudi King Abdullah, seen as a reformer & vocal advocate of peace in Middle East  http://t.co/UtA2v9wurO pic.twitter.com/lyrvoNGX16

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 22, 2015

“He was loved by his people and will be deeply missed.” Tony Blair on the death of King Abdullah. http://t.co/BT9f5DbZpN

— Tony Blair Office (@tonyblairoffice) January 23, 2015

But the truth is very different …

US politicians rush to issue tributes to a king that bans women from driving, whips bloggers for criticism, & leads the world in beheadings.

— Trevor Timm (@trevortimm) January 23, 2015

Former Sen. Bob Graham: “ISIS. … is a product of Saudi ideals, Saudi money and Saudi organizational support."  http://t.co/I2ofJsGLlt

— Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) January 23, 2015

King Abdullah was a merciless US-backed butcher and a systematic human rights abuser.

— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) January 23, 2015

Saudi Arabia’s Tyrant King Misremembered as Man of Peace http://t.co/9xQnjXJbEH by @MazMHussain

— The Intercept (@the_intercept) January 23, 2015

After all, the Saudis under King Abdullah have beheaded more people than ISIS, treated women driversand atheists as terrorists, and flogged people who speak out. (Indeed, the Saudi government and ISIS are virtually indistinguishable).

And given that unconditional Western support for Saudi Arabia is one of the main causes for terrorism, Western hypocrisy is very costly, indeed.  And see this, this, this and this.