The oil is theirs… the Saudis, that is. And, when President Bush asked them to increase production once again, they said “no.”
With the price of oil hitting record highs, President Bush used a private visit to King Abdullah’s ranch here Friday to make a second attempt to persuade the Saudi government to increase oil production and was rebuffed yet again.
The President seems to have no leverage with the Saudis. As reported before he left for this mid-East trip
Mr. Bush was asked what he would tell the king this time that he did not say when he was here last.
“That I didn’t say last time?” he asked, adding, “The price is even higher.”
DUH? Now, that’s a damned persuasive argument, don’t you think? Well, forget leverage, let’s just keep kissing their feet.
On Friday, the White House announced a series of initiatives meant to increase the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia on energy and fighting terrorism.
Among the steps: Saudi Arabia will join 70 partner nations of a global initiative to fight nuclear terrorism, and will join more than 85 countries participating in an initiative intended to reduce the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In exchange, the White House said, the United States will help the Saudis develop civilian nuclear power, as well as new infrastructure to safeguard its energy supplies.
Now, excuse me, but it seems that every time we help one country of another develop any kind of nuclear power or sell them arms and military equipment sooner or later that knowledge and those weapons are used against us. Remember? We are the ones who supplied Saddam Hussein for years.
I am well aware that Saudi Arabia has been a friend… from afar…. for some time. But, we too many of our friends are fickle and from history we should all know that a friend today can become a foe tomorrow.
Democrats like Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York are pressing for sanctions against Saudi Arabia. Mr. Schumer wants to limit arms sales to the kingdom, saying he wants them to “cooperate and not strangle American consumers.”
The Bush White House opposes such methods. But with gasoline nearing $4 a gallon, clearly Mr. Bush is looking for some cooperation. Oil prices rose by more than $3 on Friday to more than $127 a barrel, according to The A.P.
Well, fellow Americans, we are left with a couple of options. We can either support sanctions against Saudi Arabia, such as limiting arms sales as Schumer suggested, or we can pay the price now and finally understand that we need to stop talking about alternative energy and get busy doing something about it.
