ART,
There are a couple of problems with your analysis. One, we, that is the U.S. , don't actually use that much middle eastern oil, less than 10% if I recall correctly. We get the bulk of our imported oil from Mexico and Venezuela, plus Canada. So it is not that we are dependent on middle eastern oil per se, it is just that OPEC, which largely means Saudi Arabia, sets the world price that we pay.
Moreover, a price fixing cartel is not normal capitalism, at least under our laws. They are not doing the same thing as US energy companies, unless you believe there are massive price fixing conspiracies that successive Justice Departments have somehow failed to unearth. By fixing an artificially high price, they are extorting money from us. It's no different than if they charged extortion not to seize ships that passed by their coasts. It is an illegitimate tax on world commerce. We used the Marines to convince the Barbary Pirates they should find other ways to satisfy their revenue needs, and we can teach the Saudis a similar lesson.
The implicit assumption of your posts, that what they are doing is within the norms of acceptable behavior, is an idea we must combat. For too long we have just accepted this hosing without complaint. I say the time is right to call them on it.
There are a couple of problems with your analysis. One, we, that is the U.S. , don't actually use that much middle eastern oil, less than 10% if I recall correctly. We get the bulk of our imported oil from Mexico and Venezuela, plus Canada. So it is not that we are dependent on middle eastern oil per se, it is just that OPEC, which largely means Saudi Arabia, sets the world price that we pay.
Moreover, a price fixing cartel is not normal capitalism, at least under our laws. They are not doing the same thing as US energy companies, unless you believe there are massive price fixing conspiracies that successive Justice Departments have somehow failed to unearth. By fixing an artificially high price, they are extorting money from us. It's no different than if they charged extortion not to seize ships that passed by their coasts. It is an illegitimate tax on world commerce. We used the Marines to convince the Barbary Pirates they should find other ways to satisfy their revenue needs, and we can teach the Saudis a similar lesson.
The implicit assumption of your posts, that what they are doing is within the norms of acceptable behavior, is an idea we must combat. For too long we have just accepted this hosing without complaint. I say the time is right to call them on it.
