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

It has been a really busy week for anyone trying to stay on top of current events. The Middle East is still imploding. Democrats in Wisconsin actually demonstrated a backbone and stood up for unionized public workers by fleeing the state. And Republicans continued speaking with one voice everywhere but in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last night Richard Engle, Chief Foreign Correspondent for NBC news was shown reporting from the studios of CNBC in Bahrain. His comment was that usually the stories coming out of that nation were about business. Today Manama, the capital of Bahrain, looks more like a war zone, with families mourning their dead and tanks patrolling the streets after violent skirmishes in the city.

Bahrain is a tiny island country, but it is important to the US because it hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. The 5th Fleet is there as a show of force to Iran’s military leaders. (It is also only 26 miles from Saudi Arabia, and a four hour drive from the Saudi capital.) In the wake of the violence in Manama, the British government has been trying to decide if they should continue to export arms to Bahrain. Hillary Clinton asked the government to exercise some restraint.

Bahrain is a tiny country with a religious problem. It has a Sunni monarch and Shiite citizens. Expect some Glenn Beck Paranoia about the developments there. Saudi Princes might share some of Beck’s paranoia, as they are not likely to be happy if a fellow Sunni monarchy falls. Saudi’s Shiite minority happens to live in the oil producing areas of that country. Oh my!

Meanwhile, back in the US, Boehner has lost control of his House. Those dang upstart Freshmen Republicans just aren’t voting the way they are told, and yesterday voted down one of his personal pork perks. No problem with Colorado Republicans still staying in line, however. I have it on good authority that Senator Steve King listens only to the American Legislative Exchange Council when he’s looking at issues. If you haven’t heard about ALEC, you should research it. They write model legislation that promotes “conservative solutions.” It figures that King would be guided by them—he’s not known for his original thinking. I’m pretty sure that Laura Bradford and Ray Scott drink from the same well. Ask Laura about her trip to Washington DC to learn all about Red Cards.

There is a theory that ALEC is behind the events in Wisconsin. Clearly a lot of Republican governors are working to demolish unions. It has been a Republican mantra ever since Ronald Reagan took on the Air Traffic Controllers. But it looks as though unions are finally fighting back, especially in Wisconsin. What do Republicans have against unions? They write checks to Democrats. What I can’t figure out is what American workers have against unions.

Finally, I found a story in the American Thinker, a right leaning publication, about how our economic world is about to come crashing down. This represents the thinking of the right pretty well. Anything that helps business is good. Anything that helps workers is bad. You can find this stuff all over the internet, but this one had an amusing coincidence. I’d never heard of the author, so I goggled him. You won’t believe what I found. I’m not sure it is the same guy, but if it is…

The blind are leading the blind in the Republican Party.

Homework

Protesters in Bahrain

US Navy's 5th Fleet

Glenn Beck on Bahrain

Bloomberg Talks About Saudi Arabia and Suni Shiite Sects ßPretty good analysis.

All Is Not Well in Boehner's House

American Legislative Exchange Council

Fighting Public Sector Unions

The Tipping Point is Near

Jeff Thomas Allen Barred by SEC