[Space Tycoon]

Guys, don't think for one minute that North America is dependent on the Mideast for it's energy supply. That is a myth, a classic example of the Big Lie that people believe when it is repeated often enough. Truth is, we could get by without it.

The US relies more on Western Hemispheric sources of oil than ME sources, which are relatively minor. However, the economies of East Asia, Europe, and increasingly India are very dependent on it. This will only increase as China and India continue their meteoric industrial rise.

Oil companies are ass-deep in the Mideast, and Central Asia, for precisely this reason. The game has never been about securing lots of cheap oil for Americans' personal use. See the "Gas Prices" thread for evidence of this. It's about controlling the flow of oil at the source. If we didn't get in there, the Russians surely would.

I agree that alternate energy is long past due for being developed and marketed. But that wouldn't suit the purposes of a few billionaire Petrol-igarchs, now would it?

Then there's the Israel factor. Israel's far right wing has always been sympatico with the neo-conservative movement in Washington. When the Bush Administration faced the aftermath of 9/11, the neocons saw their chance and went for it. They've been in the driver's seat ever since the towers fell and have only recently been humbled by scandals and failure.






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