Michael Lynch takes note of the connection between poverty and lack of freedom in the Islamic world. Like other repressive regimes throughout the world (China comes to mind), the rulers of countries like Saudi Arabia are tempted to open up a bit economically in order to keep their subjects from rebelling, but they definitely don't want to grant any political freedoms.
Today's quote from Victor Hugo: "Rights must be whole or they are nothing." (Les Miserables, III.4.iv)