[Miki]

This is an awesome article. It traces the historical relationship between Americans oil-related policies in the ME and the emergence of terrorism. Very interesting.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')ust as significant, if far less acknowledged, is the relationship between oil and Islamic extremism. If it weren’t for our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, we wouldn’t project such a conspicuous and over-bearing presence in the Middle East—and it is this presence, more than anything else, that has generated the toxic anti-Americanism on which al-Qaida feeds. Doing better in the battle of ideas is not enough; if we ever hope to prevail in the war on terror, we must also remove oil from the strategic equation.

To fully appreciate the relationship between America’s oil dependency and contemporary Middle Eastern terrorism, it is necessary to know something about the historical trajectories of both. Prior to World War II, the United States had very little official presence in the Persian Gulf area—at that time we were self-sufficient in oil, and in any case were content to allow Great Britain to control the region. But President Franklin D. Roosevelt correctly surmised that the United States would eventually become dependent on imported oil as our domestic reserves were drained, and so he set out to establish American control over a major foreign source of supply—eventually selecting Saudi Arabia to assume this role.

On February 14, 1945, he met with King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud aboard a U.S. warship in the Suez Canal and forged an oil-for-protection arrangement under which the United States pledged to defend the Saudi royal family in return for privileged access to Saudi petroleum reserves. All else that has occurred in the Gulf, including 9/11, has followed from this fateful encounter.

[gego]

It seems to me that this is the history of the world, i.e., squabbling or killing over territory and resources.

What else would the world be interested in the Middle East for except oil?

[Lawmage]

Interesting idea, Miki. The US only imports about 25% of its oil from the Persian Gulf region. This means that the US would only need to find substitues in the form of greater efficienies or alternate resources for 25% of its oil needs in order to completely distance itself from the Gulf. I suppose the needs of Europe and Japan would still cause some concern but perhaps they could shoulder that burden themselves?

In truth though, Miki, I don't think even a total US withdrawal from the region would quell the terrorists. You might say its about oil but that is not what the terrorists say. They hate what the US represents. They see the US as morally bankrupt. Our values threaten them. Things like equality for women, religious freedom, freedom of speech....these threaten the fundamentalists within the Umma and cause them to lash out at the West in general and the US in particular. Consider the murder of Theo Van Gogh or the fatwah on Rushdie.

Additionally, there is the small matter of US support for Israel...

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lawmage', 'T')he US only imports about 25% of its oil from the Persian Gulf region. This means that the US would only need to find substitues in the form of greater efficienies or alternate resources for 25% of its oil needs in order to completely distance itself from the Gulf.

[qwerty]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lawmage', 'T')he US only imports about 25% of its oil from the Persian Gulf region. This means that the US would only need to find substitues in the form of greater efficienies or alternate resources for 25% of its oil needs in order to completely distance itself from the Gulf.

[qwerty]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lawmage', ' ')They hate what the US represents. They see the US as morally bankrupt. Our values threaten them. Things like equality for women, religious freedom, freedom of speech....these threaten the fundamentalists within the Umma and cause them to lash out at the West in general and the US in particular. Consider the murder of Theo Van Gogh or the fatwah on Rushdie.

Additionally, there is the small matter of US support for Israel...