Oppressing American women in Saudi Arabia

The writers of the JAG episode "Head to Toe" had their hearts in the right place, but I wonder how aware they are of the excessive power Saudis wield on the United States. Tough the episode, which first aired in 2002, has a disclaimer at the beginning that it's about fictional events, it deals with a real-life Department of Defense regulation which requires female servicemembers to cover themselves almost completely in accordance with Islamic principles when off base. In the story, Harm and Mac defend Lt. Stefanie Donato (Lana Parrilla), who had the temerity to drive a car and show up at a restaurant in Riyadh with her face exposed. Her point that her uniform would be acceptable attire in Brooklyn is countered with the fact that she's in Saudi Arabia. In the end, she is spared from court martial but ordered not to complain any further on the issue. The episode ends with text stating that in January 2002 the DoD rescinded the requirement that women cover themselves up when off base in Saudi Arabia, but kept the requirement that they be escorted by men and they don't drive.

But why did women have to put up with that regulation, in place since 1995? It is mentioned in the episode that Saudi Arabia is an important U. S. ally in the Middle East. What the episode does not mention at all is how powerful Saudi interests have affected America on American soil. When Michael Moore showed up with cameras at the Saudi embassy in Washington, he was shooshed away by the Secret Service. George W. Bush, an honorary Saudi, must have been an excellent choice of U. S. President as far as the Saudis were concerned. So, if a Saudi eccentric were to recruit a bunch of Saudis to destroy an American landmark, he'd be quite safe from American retaliation. Hopefully that will never happen.