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The current Middle East crisis in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and Libya also illustrates clearly the hypocrisy inherent in typical US Presidential elections.
Instead of the two parties coming out and stating clearly how they will deal with world affairs, you have these grand statements about how things will “change” and we will have a new politics of “transparency”.
Reality: the real world is f’d up and gladhanding dictators only gets you the stink palm.
Dec 2010 Oil Imports (000 BPD)
CANADA 2,064
MEXICO 1,223
SAUDI ARABIA 1,076
NIGERIA 1,024
VENEZUELA 825
IRAQ 336
ANGOLA 307
BRAZIL 271
ALGERIA 262
COLOMBIA 220
ECUADOR 192
RUSSIA 158
KUWAIT 125
UNITED KINGDOM 124
ARGENTINA 85
The “Israel” issue is simply the vertex of a decades long struggle between US interests (including oil) and opposing parties globally who see it as the easiest way to garner popular support in their homelands for efforts against US hegemony.
When asked about this yesterday, he replied that there will be clarity on these issues in a few days. Huh??? In a few days?? While the bombs are dropping??
EXACTLY. Whether you people know it or not, Gaddafy is targetting civilians now with his ground forces.
This has now become a humanitarian effort. no matter who controls the country, the oil will eventually flow because it has to.
DIBS, I totally agree that our Israel strategy is about appeasement of certain voting groups, and has nothing to do with oil.
One interesting thing about our relationship to Middle East oil is that we don’t much of it for ourselves, but we need enough of it to flow to the world market to both ensure global supplies, as well as to meet the direct needs of our allies.
Someone needs to take a leadership role with Libya. France, with their 3 fighter jets certainly can’t do it. it’s supposed to be a NATO effort.
I say if they want us to be part of NATO they better get their shit together. The Iranian warheads aren’t powerful enough to reach us. Are they kidding themselves that we aren’t there to protect them because they can’t protect themselves.
NATO is NOT about Russia anymore.
Scott;
My point remains. Even if Obama believes it is best for the US to be working this through NATO, he has to make his case in the US and ride with it. Why is it better to work through NATO? What’s the objective? What’s the command structure? Are these points clear?
When asked about this yesterday, he replied that there will be clarity on these issues in a few days. Huh??? In a few days?? While the bombs are dropping??
I don’t believe that President Obama has the right people advising him.
Say what you will about them, but previous Presidents had smart men behind the scenes advising them on global strategy.
Put it this way,
given the President’s March Madness picks,
his choice of advisors seems to be third string,
back benchers who think that Iceland is where
Chris Kringle hangs out with a pack of assorted
claymation characters.
we are on Iran’s butt now cause of oil too. all our bitching on Iran got us zilch. Russia and China are the ones making out on Iran’s build-out’s