America needs to kick its addiction to imported oil. That was true when T. Boone Pickens started lobbying for the development of wind farms after spending life as an oil and gas developer. It is still true even though Pickens suspended his idea for a Texas wind farm in 2009, no doubt because he couldn’t find enough investors to take away his risk. Officially Pickens said that he lost interest when the price of natural gas went down--kinda like the oil and gas exploration companies in Mesa County.
There is a more altruistic reason to kick the addiction to imported oil. Our friends aren’t friends of either democracy or our way of life. Take the House of Saud, as an example. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, with a lot to lose if democratic ideals take hold in the country. Saudi women don’t enjoy anything approaching equality—they can’t even get a driver’s license. Yet, we’ve been arming the Saudis with our leading edge technologies for years.
We also armed the Egyptians. An argument can be made that Egypt it didn’t turn out badly, mostly because the Egyptian Army heard from our State Department that they wouldn’t continue to have unlimited access to military toys if they used arms on the citizens of Egypt. The House of Saud was apoplectic when the US called for Mubarak to step down.
The Saudi army isn’t as likely to be loyal to the people of Saudia Arabia. They are bought and paid for by the Saudi Princes who have no desire to institute any democratic reforms. In fact, they are so aghast at the idea of democracy taking over the Mid-East that they have sent their U.S. supplied military into bordering nations to squash protestors.
The House of Saud is also paranoid about Iran. In fact, they are convinced that the democracy movement is something that has been concocted by Iranian spies. They are so paranoid that they have agreed to allow Israel access to their air space if an attack on Iran is the purpose.
Friendship with Saudi Arabia may become increasingly expensive and questionable since the two nations do not share political agendas. As the House of Saud digs in its heels, refusing to consider any reforms, they may become more enemy than friend, and what will happen to our access to Mid-East oil then?
Homework
The House of Saud Won't Wake Up
Pickens Puts Windfarm on Hold
There is a more altruistic reason to kick the addiction to imported oil. Our friends aren’t friends of either democracy or our way of life. Take the House of Saud, as an example. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, with a lot to lose if democratic ideals take hold in the country. Saudi women don’t enjoy anything approaching equality—they can’t even get a driver’s license. Yet, we’ve been arming the Saudis with our leading edge technologies for years.
We also armed the Egyptians. An argument can be made that Egypt it didn’t turn out badly, mostly because the Egyptian Army heard from our State Department that they wouldn’t continue to have unlimited access to military toys if they used arms on the citizens of Egypt. The House of Saud was apoplectic when the US called for Mubarak to step down.
The Saudi army isn’t as likely to be loyal to the people of Saudia Arabia. They are bought and paid for by the Saudi Princes who have no desire to institute any democratic reforms. In fact, they are so aghast at the idea of democracy taking over the Mid-East that they have sent their U.S. supplied military into bordering nations to squash protestors.
The House of Saud is also paranoid about Iran. In fact, they are convinced that the democracy movement is something that has been concocted by Iranian spies. They are so paranoid that they have agreed to allow Israel access to their air space if an attack on Iran is the purpose.
Friendship with Saudi Arabia may become increasingly expensive and questionable since the two nations do not share political agendas. As the House of Saud digs in its heels, refusing to consider any reforms, they may become more enemy than friend, and what will happen to our access to Mid-East oil then?
Homework
The House of Saud Won't Wake Up
Pickens Puts Windfarm on Hold
RSS Feed