I was just referencing headlines like this one: "Saudis funding Al Qaeda is a sticky situation"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236400,00.html
That was one version of how the story was reported, but when you read the text of the article, it never really mentioned Al Qaeda at all. I have no problem if people want to call Sunni militants by the banner Al Qaeda, but some people do.
Your view seems a bit "Americentric. Your complex soap opera scenario doesn't even address the obvious - Saudi Arabia is a Sunni state, their allegiance with Sunni's is a natural one. It would be bad for them if they lost control over the Shia population, or worse, that Shiite Iran expanded and threatened Mecca. Some things can be taken at face value.