by Schadenfreude » Mon 26 May 2008, 15:48:02
I had always thought that by the time the Dems re-capture foreign policy that there will be compelling reason to maintain troops in Iraq.
I'm betting that oil prices rise so high, so fast that world leaders, perhaps initiated by Obama, will be willing to convene a global energy summit. Should this occur while the US has a large contingent of troops remaining in Iraq, it means the US will have more clout in any bargaining or deal-making that goes down.
And it seems already clear that a global energy summit is necessary. There's no way that the Chinese can continue to develop a US-style car culture. And there needs to be some serious planning for future global development that takes into account a greatly reduced energy budget. And there needs to be some serious co-operation in the development and deployment of alternative energies. Nothing compares to oil and gas, but this is no reason to forego R&D and a sensible re-think of what sort of infrastructure will serve us all best.
Winston Churchill once famously remarked that "America can be relied upon to do the right thing once she has exhausted all the alternatives".
I think we've gotten there finally, thanks to BushCo.