Every time we buy gas, we pay directly or indirectly the Saudis, the Iranians and other supporters of terrorism. Saudi paid for tens of thousands of radical Islamic mosques throughout the world. Their Wahabbi propaganda has penetrated 80% of mosques in the US. They have paid for the religious schools everywhere: These schools in Pakistan where responsible for creating Taliban. Saudi’s are subverting Bangladesh, funding Al Qaeda and they are also founding the “Islamic Study Departments” in Oxford and in leading US university.\nIran is paying Hezbollah and other extremists who have sworn to destroy us.\nThe answer is simple.\nSTOP USING OIL.\nWe can easily use other sources: Alcohol, bio-diesel, and invent many others. It will be cheaper and much more effective than fighting with the Muslims. Without OIL they have NOTHING. Let them go tend their camels. They will have no chance to threaten the West.
209090
While reducing our oil dependency is inarguably a great idea, it would probably only fuel (pun intended) resentment, thus increasing incidences of Islamic terrorism.
666175
The theory is like this: Radical Wahhabi Muslims in Saudi Arabia end their "detente" with the less than religiously strict Saudi Royal Family, and start a little insurrection. As it stands, the Saudi royals fund all of the religious schools, build mosques, maintain Islamic law, etc., and they turn a blind eye to the royal families excesses. \n\nIt's not that far fetched to imagine these radicals (Al Qaeda, etc.), see the royals cracking down on terrorists, working with the U.S., and becoming too westernized. They're response: take over the Saudi oil fields, blow them up, render them useless, and they cripple the U.S. as well as every other Western Govt's economy. They would like nothing better than to get back to their nomadic days in the desert. They believe that all of their problems started with the discovery of oil. And by all accounts, the Saudi military may not be up to the task of stopping any of this.\n\nOf course, the U.S., as well as every other oil dependent nation, has a contingency plan if this happens. They would invade and secure the oil fields, or try. The point is, if the radical muslims destroy enough infrastructure in the oil industry, pipelines, refineries, etc., then the world's largest oil reserves are off line for months. Think about the global economic crisis that would result from Saudi oil being cut off for months???\n\nRead "Sleeping with the Devil : How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude" by Bob Baer.
118837
As some rapper once said (sorry, not a rap fan), and it applies to everything the government has done forever...\n\n"If it don't make dollars then it don't make sense."\n\nThe article should clear up exactly how oil is involved in our situation...to say we are going to war to get the oil is putting it too simply, that's not the end reason.  The reason we need the oil is to cover for our weak dollar and our manufacturing going over-seas.
393630
Are you asking a question or are you preaching?  The discourse above sounds more like a sermon than a question.\n\nAt one point the US did support Iraq, and Saddam (when they were fighting Iran).  However they were never allies of ours.  The relation ship we had with them was more an "enemy of my enemy" thing.\n\nI doubt seriously that Israel ever trained the Taliban, much less in Pakistan.\n\nI am skeptical about the US "giving $6 billion to Al Qaeda,"  unless you are referring to indirectly through the purchase of oil.\n\nAs for the rest, it seems that it is the sermon part.
537632
The radicals driven by religion because of promises of 72 virgins in heaven for waging Jihad against the west has affected us more than we think.\n\nThe HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars spent on the war alone plus substancial millitary budgets have taken so much money away from other areas that need that money such as welfare, education, infrastructure.. and the list goes on.\n\nUnfortunately the terrorists in the middle east want to kill anyone who isn't a Muslim, and even if they are they'll kill you for being in the United States if you are not involved in such splinter cells.... Lukily they do not have that capability...yet.\n\nI hope this answers your question!
89235
Neither is at fault!  \n\nJihadists use 9/11, the Sudan, the plight of the Palestinian people, American bases on Saudi soil, etc...\nas excuses to, in their own words, "... convert or kill ... the infidels."  \n\nIt's not about Jay Benish, or Michele Malkin, or any other American for that matter.  Check out Al Jazeera if you want to hear it from the horse's mouth.  Rabid terrorists, ravenous for power, have hijacked a religion, and it's gullible followers to do their bidding!\n\nRemember that middle-eastern terrorism, targeted against the U.S., began in the 1970s, long before Clinton or Bush. \n\nIn the history of man, a war has NEVER been fought for any reason other than the acquisition of resources; be it land, water, minerals, etc...  Religion has often been an excuse, or rather the scape-goat for greed.  This current jihad is no exception.  \n\nFifty years from now, when we are hopefully fully engaged in the use of more efficient energy sources, where will the middle east obtain the resources to sustain their people?  When oil is no longer a commodity, where will their collateral and resulting buying power come from?  \n\nLet's look this beast squarely in the face, and call it what it really is ... some far-thinking survivalists, who will spare no one, and nothing from their wrath.
73001
in response to neparis2001: How about a car that runs on bull$hit? The conservative republicans are spreading plenty of that around. \n\nOr, you can do what I do. I refuse to support MidEast oil. All of my gas purchases are from Citgo, which comes from Venezuela. The only way that OPEC and the big oil companies are going to lower their prices is if we start hitting them where it hurts - in the wallet.
139304
Are you serious?Iran is the world's fourth largest oil-exporter.If the international community does anything to Iran the latter will stop exporting oil and then what do you think will happen to the world economy?It'll burst like a party balloon.And that's worse for the world isn't it?This whole is issue is politically motivated and once oil-prices start feeling the heat it'll all be sorted out amicably.Its all about the money my friend-noone gives a fu-k about whether or not our Yiddish friends are feeling secure down there.In any case Iran won't have the balls to stir up some nuclear bullsh*t with the Israelis-if they do Mossad will have Teheran levelled before you can say "Zionist Crusader"!
622323
You do have a point, but we are not there for the reasons you discuss. We are there so that the buddies of Bush can make $, yes Haliburton with their ridiculous contracts, but also the big oil companies wanting to make good on their investments in the Caspian Sea area. Afterall, if you had untold billions invested, wouldn't you want to make good on it? Besides the military presence there helps protect those investments.
232229
First of all, I'm as a Saudi person think that we don't need the Americana's protection. Therefore, we kicked the US troops from here about four years ago in order to tell the world that we can stand by ourselves and we are not anymore under the US protection. In fact, Saudi Arabia is so important as it plays a major role of politics in the region and known as a peaceful and neutral country.\n\nI think there are great business deals between America and Saudi Arabia as well as other countries but i don't think Saudi would pay one cent to American in order to be protected.\n\nSaudi Arabia has the key either to run the world or shut it down because we all know that it plays a leading role in OPEC and it ranks as the largest exporter country providing 1/3 petrol in the world.\n\nImagine if we just burn the oil here.. would you be able to fly from florida to new york within 2 hours? .. i don't think so .. you may need to buy a bicycle. But for us it won't make much difference you know we are Bedouins and we still have our own camels but i believe that your president will be broadcasted ridding a bike.\n\nfor further discussion\nsaudix@gmail.com
133988
its mere speculation, \n\nthere is just no economics in the way oil prices are moving..there is no supply problem as of now..but still u can see this surge//\n\nthe prices are news based and manipulated, another interesting observation is that since US plan on IRAN is now more real and around the corner..u knw wat i mean..
327245
Iran and then Venezuela want to adopt EURO for oil.\nBecause they want to limit US interferes in the world. Also, ex-Iraq leaders decided to do this.\n\nIf they can to do, it will make hard situation for US and US-Dollar.\nI think all of these brawls about Iran is for Oil and adopting EURO instead of US-Dollar.
108416
I am watching this unfold rather carefully.\n\nThe delay was the right thing to do since it allowed Americans to digest it a bit more.\n\nThere certainly is a lot of Anti Arab sentiment in the States.  Much as there is anti-Americanism in most if not all Arab countries and neighbors.\n\nAs far as Americans "trusting" any Arab, one has to admit, its difficult often times to separate the nation from the extremists.  \n\nIt is not just terrorism, however, that makes us distrust the Mid-Eastern states.  Its a disdain for OPEC and the "barrell" they hold us over.  \n\nAs far as the ports are concerned, I'm stumped why as Americans we weren't running them with an American owned company to begin with.  Too many of our jobs are exported as it is.  We need to look out for America at some point and not worry about "offending" a foreign nation all the time.  \n\nAs for an Arabian "response" that you mention should occur:  Once again, you have as by the balls.  Oil Prices are likely to rise as they do whenever OPEC decides it fits them.\n\nGood Luck, my Arab Friend.
315238
The last I looked an organization called OPEC decides what they sell oil for; so how you can you say we loot the middle east?  We pay for the products we purchase, and not once have we used our military to secure assets.  Looting is a poor choice of words.  If you live in another nation we buy products from - get your government or companies to charge more for it - but recognize our companies will just buy it cheaper somewhere else.
561494
Islamic countries have oil. Big transnational companies need oil so they bribe some western governments to produce lame excuses and terrorize the western public so that they can steal away oil, just like in Iraq.
92997
This is my answer from a similar question (link in the sources).  Since many of these Islamic countries are allies of the USA, the answer is "no".  The only groups these countries must "fight back" against are the extremists in one, very numerous, sect of Sunni Islam.\n\nHere is the old answer:\nThe whole Islamic world is not even, or will ever be, allied with itself. I realize that American public education and our universities fail miserably at teaching the truth about other cultures, so here is a run down.\n\nThere are two main sects in Islam (not Muslim as being "Muslim" is a state of Islam, akin to "Nirvana"). These are the Sunnis and the Shia. The Sunnis think the Shia are apostates and traitors to Islam. Within the Sunni sect, there are several other subsects of which Whabbasism is just one. Trying to get all these sects to agree on what day it even is is difficult enough. Having them unite as one is almost impossible. \n\nThis is further complicated by the fact African, Far Eastern, and Indonesian Islamists don't like the Arabs, or each other. Al Qeada's pay and command structure further infuriated non-Arab Islamic people. Old Bin Lying doesn't pay non-Arabs as much as Arabs or let them be as high ranking in his clubhouse. Plus, the genocide in Sudan and other parts is being caused by Islamic Arabs killing Islamic Africans, along with Christian Africans. BTW, Islam refers to Jesus Christ as a prophet and pays homage to him (Guess Bin Lying forgot to read that part of the Quran!).\n\nMixed into this further the tribal and clan nature of the Middle East and Africa. The US, USSR, UK, and others have always been able to fracture the alliances by either buying off a clan or allowing the clans to fight themselves, which is usually what happens without Western involvement.\n\nAnd to top it off, a large and growing number of Islamic peoples do not hate America or what it is doing. Efforts in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Indonesia, Pakistan, and other areas where the US Military and NGOs go in are paying monumental dividends.\n\nIraqis are siding with the USA, as are Jordanians, as are the oppressed people of Iran (they just can't do much about it right now.. such is what always happens when you disarm the people). Then there are the Pastdun people of Pakistan, who, after Al Qeada abandoned them following the massive earthquake that killed 80,000+, saw the ones who rushed in was...come on, guess....That's right, the USA! And who sent massive aid to Indonesia, dispite the lies from leftists in the UN? The USA wins there too by sending very high level, and possibly vulnerable assets to the disaster area. Just like we did for Katrina later, the US military sent assault ships, one of our two hospital ships, and an aircraft carrier without its fighters but loaded with supplies and helos (the USS Kittyhawk) to the area. These efforts speak volumes to the people of the area and cause a rift between them and our enemies.\n\nSo, yes, we stand a great chance since the Islamic world is difficult to unite and easy to fracture.
425921
We've poured tremendous amounts of money into Pakistan in an attempt to "buy" their good will. They give us just enough results to keep the money coming in. Muslims do hate the U.S. Some can say it's only the radical muslims that hate the US, but if that were true, those "radicals" would have no following. The more times they call us the Great Satan, the higher their standing among the rank and file muslim world.