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See the original image at latimes.com

New forces fraying U.S.-Saudi oil ties

latimes.com — Surging prices, along with a weak dollar and an oil-thirsty Asia, have blunted America's leverage with the key oil producer and helped sour the two nations' relationship.

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  • duggtodeath, on 06/09/2008, -5/+51Wait until some oil-producing nation asks for Euros instead of dollars. Magically, we will find terrorists there.
    • Viend, on 06/09/2008, -1/+28And WMDs.
    • Barackalypse, on 06/09/2008, -12/+9A nation like Iran, for instance? You wouldn't need David Copperfield to find terrorists there. What about Saudi Arabia, I'm sure the 15 9/11 hijackers were the only terrorists in that country. But surely Nigeria and Mexico don't have terrorists, unless you count rebel groups that attack infrastructure and kidnap people. Venezuela would never finance FARC terrorists, nor would Libya ever dream of bombing an airplane in flight. Yeah, it would be a real stretch to find terrorists in some of these oil producing countries.
      • diggrnumber1, on 06/09/2008, -2/+13it also wouldn't be much of a stretch to find terrorists here. here is one definition of "terrorist" from the dictionary:

        "a radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities"

        Our government employs terror (in the sense of cultivating fear) as a political weapon, and they use religion as a cover for it. It doesn't say the terrorists have to be organized in small cells.
        • Barackalypse, on 06/09/2008, -5/+6Fear mongering or paranoia is a better word for what our government is doing. I think you know perfectly well the type of terrorist the original poster probably meant was someone who uses violence or damage to property to advance a political ideology or agenda.
        • sanman, on 06/09/2008, -9/+3Y'know, if you want to protest against fur, you kind of lose credibility when you're wearing it.
          So the best way to credibly protest the United States is to not live there. Give it a thought.
      • spawnfree, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1that sarcasm was so thick my eyes got stuck
      • toshibu, on 06/09/2008, -1/+2"nor would Libya ever dream of bombing an airplane in flight"
        Neither would the US, I suppose: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655
        • floorman56, on 06/09/2008, -1/+1So what you are saying is we KNEW it was a airliner? and did it on purpose ...

          or are you saying the Libyan guys DIDN'T KNOW they were putting a bomb on a airliner?
    • toshibu, on 06/09/2008, -1/+2That's exactly what Iraq had done just prior to the invasion. And today, Iran is doing the same. Coincidence?
  • str3ama, on 06/09/2008, -4/+22Saudi has never really had a relationship with the US, they basically had a relationship with US head of states who went overseas under the guise of diplomacy and representing America, but really went there as businessmen promoting their own company's agenda. They made the president here, but when they go overseas they represent the concerns of whatever company is putting money in their pockets.
    • dafunkmonster, on 06/09/2008, -6/+2And who does that company employ? Americans...so really, what is your point?
      • str3ama, on 06/09/2008, -1/+3No those companies may be American but they don't always reflect the values of America or look out for the best interests of its people. They hire whoever will do the work the cheapest (which means work goes elsewhere), they lobby the government for tax exemptions and tax write offs in exchange for promises of innovation that they will never truly invest or commit to.
    • diggrnumber1, on 06/09/2008, -2/+3those wouldn't be oil companies. the US oil companies would love it if our relationship with Saudi Arabia turned sour, as it would drastically inflate the price of oil. Saudi Arabia doesn't legally permit US oil companies to own rights to Saudi oil (the state-run Aramco reserves those rights), so the US-based oil companies can only gain from less access to Saudi oil. It would only increase the demand for Exxon and Chevron oil.
      • str3ama, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1It wouldn't be just oil companies, large media corporations that want to expand into countries they may not informally have access to, or pharmaceutical companies, life insurance companies..it goes on and on to a sickening array of corruption and greed all at the public's expense of course. Surely they won't bite the hand that feeds?
  • supersoyboy, on 06/09/2008, -2/+24i guess thats more of a strain on the relationship than the financing of september 11 hijackers..
  • 1randomguyO8, on 06/09/2008, -11/+2OIL. WE NEED MOAR OF IT!
    • jaydoj, on 06/09/2008, -2/+2O RLY?
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      • stienster, on 06/10/2008, -0/+1that's cool, but what is it? I'm terrible with these txt image thingies
  • Stryder81, on 06/09/2008, -7/+16Bush can stick his thumb back in his mouth, Condoleezza's thumb in her ass and walk the f**k out.

    It's no ones fault but theirs by pushing the Fed to pump out more money. Irresponsible spoiled brats.
    • Stonekeeper, on 06/09/2008, -0/+5That's a lot of thumb action!
    • JointVenture, on 06/09/2008, -4/+1Except for the fact that it was the DEMOCRATS who pushed for the bailout you would be right.
      • str3ama, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1both sides are corrupt, some less then others. But for once let this not be about partisan politics. wishful thinking indeed.
    • stienster, on 06/10/2008, -0/+2Dems, Republicans: both on the same team people. Like the offense and defense of american football. Sometimes the offense is on the field, sometimes the defense. But it's a team with one owner, one coach, one gen. manager, one captain. And there's a goal for these wackos: control the play with fake outs and deception, until there's no more money (time remaining), then go for the hail mary, or in the US economic situation, bring in the Amero! Now that everything is in place, it's just a matter of when, not if, the Amero comes in to 'save the day', and 'natural disasters' prevent any real uproar from taking hold of the citizenry. Massive prisons/camps have been built and are waiting in the wings for those of us who see through the facade. Oil?- there's plenty. Not many ppl left with their own cars though, so don't worry about it so much. Fuel for winter heat?- The idea has been to 'greatly reduce' the 'over abundant population', and freezing, starving, poisoning, etc., is all inside the game plan. Wake up Americans! It's long past time we all WAKE UP.
  • stranglethorne, on 06/09/2008, -1/+11The greatest outcome of surging oil prices is the immense research and development into substitutions.

    Economics and the law of substitution will eventually prevail
    • Barackalypse, on 06/09/2008, -1/+12You actually don't need any R&D, we already have the technology. Nuclear power is perfectly capable of supplying all our energy needs, and the battery technology for the average commuter to get to and from work without recharging is already in place in test versions of the GM Volt, all that is needed is a commitment to mass production to make it economically sensible. From an infrastructure perspective the largest hurdle besides manufacturing these things is upgrades to service stations to rapidly recharge an electric car, plus any power distribution build out needed to make that happen.
      • Myztry, on 06/09/2008, -0/+2Why recharge on the spot. Swap and Go just like gas cylinders.
        • thugok, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1Because I don't want you 3 year old battery pack in my 3 month old car.
  • NecroDigg, on 06/09/2008, -9/+2Madness...?

    THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
    • scamper22, on 06/09/2008, -0/+0somehow that never caught on.

      Better try something with overlord or proft!!!
  • happyseamonster, on 06/09/2008, -4/+3This is the equivalent to an embargo from the last time Israel had their way in the mid east with our help. The Saudis know that we are helping create a "Greater Israel" and are using their weapon of choice to squeeze the US/NEOCONS and Israel out. Elect McCain and see what happens.
  • XombieRobot, on 06/09/2008, -6/+6ManBearPig
    • jackal42, on 06/09/2008, -0/+2does he ***** in the woods, or a toilet? I'm super serial.
  • EwMo, on 06/09/2008, -4/+4INVADE THEM!!!111!111!!!!

    That will fix things.
    • hamidious, on 06/09/2008, -2/+1I doubt the US is dying for another Iraq, the Iranians would have a field day.
      • EwMo, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1I doubt you got my sarcasm. In hindsight, it was a stupid comment, but it was still sarcastic.
  • Ev00, on 06/09/2008, -1/+12Oil is the only reason why a relationship exists between the US and Saudi Arabia. As the US dominance of world economy fades, so will this relationship.
    • jobney76, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1You could also say that if the demand for oil drops significantly in the US the relationship with Saudi Arabia would fade.
  • Myztry, on 06/09/2008, -1/+8"threatens withdrawal of a proposed $1.4 billion in pending arms sales." Brilliant idea. Perhaps then US soldiers will stop dying by US manufactured weaponry.
    The Middle East may fuel the world's vehicles but the US fuels the worlds wars.
  • FrankHope, on 06/09/2008, -2/+7The biggest one day increase in oil prices was caused by an Israeli minister declaring war with Iran "unavoidable". Did oil speculators have advanced warning that he was going to make such a statement? Ask Congress to investigate.

    See article "Oil Speculation and Israeli Sabre Rattling":
    http://digg.com/political_opinion/Oil_Speculation_ ...
    • londubh, on 06/09/2008, -0/+2Thank you Israel, NOT.
    • hangtown2004, on 06/09/2008, -0/+3Israel really should stop beating the war drum like bush and start thinking peace. It would be better for all if they and all there neighbors made piece with each other, Impossible? I think it is,
  • CressCrowbits, on 06/09/2008, -1/+5The relationship with Saudi Arabia and western nations is a great big shining beacon of our hypocrisy.

    While we damn nations like Iran for abuses of human rights, terrorist links and threats to peace, often using this as reasons to go to war with them, we happily support nations like Saudi Arabia (and Turkmenistan and Pakistan and China and ... etc) who demonstrate equal and often worse behaviour, but we leave them alone - often to the extent of undermining other attempts to improve situations (see the UK government suddenly halting an investigation into corrupt deals between UK arms companies and Saudi for 'security reasons', thus undermining the UK's goal to help reduce international and governmental corruption) purely because of financial reasons.

    It's greatly saddening that the mainstream media doesn't do more to cover these things. It completely undermines everything we are supposed to stand for.
    • stienster, on 06/10/2008, -0/+1oh man... look deeper. You're missing it...
  • nycmac247, on 06/09/2008, -1/+3House of Bush, House of Saud

    http://www.craigunger.com/the-book/house-of-bush-h ...
  • hamidious, on 06/09/2008, -3/+1You'll never get oil for cheap again, just face it. We already suffered enough in Saudi Arabia when it was selling for 13$, but oil prices are the only thing keeping our economy floating right now.
    Plus, everything is increasing in price, not just oil, look at food prices.

    What I suggest is, ask your government to collect less taxes on your gasoline gallons, they are ripping you off!
    • str3ama, on 06/09/2008, -0/+2our economy is floating because of gas prices? Are you serious? One industry can't hold the weight of the entire economy, the oil price crisis is going to speed up our fall in to a recession. People have to travel, goods have to be transported, the more people spend on gas, the less expendable cash they have to spend at malls, stores or wherever - that means all those industries hit a slump. The government will probably try to inject some cash again into the system, but of course this is a waste because by that point people will be saving the money rather then spending it understandably and that's a short sighted bandage to the problem. Plus we're haemorrhaging money in Iraq - and that's going unchecked, and there's a shortage of jobs due to out-sourcing and an increasing reliance on machinery to replace some jobs. These aren't giant hurdles, there quite recoverable with the proper leadership.
  • nugx, on 06/09/2008, -3/+8Good riddance. The day we stop cutting deals with these medieval religious nuts will be a glorious one.
    • akirabs10, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1yeah, right on brother, damn those christians....

      thats what you were on about right?
  • chaserm, on 06/09/2008, -2/+1We should be making plans to nuke or take over Saudi Arabia...that's where the oil and most of the terrorist are not Iran!
  • itchie, on 06/09/2008, -0/+1Shut up and read the news....

    http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/09/news/international ...

    • trucktrash, on 06/09/2008, -1/+0Patronizing. That's all it is. "There's no justification for the rise in price", but we're doing it anyway.

      What Congress should do (since the current administration has FAILED the American people in so many ways) is tell the Saudis that their defense contracts just went up. "That $45 million F-16 that you ordered? Yeah, it's now $100 million each. Suck it."
      • itchie, on 06/16/2008, -0/+0Sure, but they wont share that wealth with us...

        They will line their pockets or spend it on other crap we don't need....
  • Brainclone, on 06/09/2008, -0/+3Saudi's have alot of reasons to keep the oil production the same and not increase it.

    The Saudi's are Palistines friends, and do not like Israel. The artcile states that this remains an issue with the US.
    It's funny, but currently news says that Israel and Palistine are trying for peace again. This of course is in response to the Saudi's issues that the US is not doing (too little too late), and are trying everything to be in the good graces of the Saudi's again.

    Asia is searching and wanting more oil... and Saudi's will probably sell to the higher bidder if it comes to the US vs Asia.

    US Dollar is going down, and the Saudi's know they can't increase production while this is happening as it devalues oil as well... It's better to have the Oil increase in value.

    The Saudi's have a Royal Flush waiting on calls, while the Asia has a straight, and the bush has a pair of aces... Asia and The US are simply increasing their bets thinking they both will win, while the Saudi's just sit back and see how much they will ultimately end up with when everyone finishes calling all increased bets...

    We are screwed in the long run... unless we cut our losses, and step away from the table...
  • OohChit, on 06/09/2008, -0/+2Too bad you don't see this on the msm tv programs..
    And now back to WHAT IS HILLARY PLANNING ON NOW..
  • grey580, on 06/09/2008, -0/+2http://digg.com/business_finance/Perhaps_60_of_tod ...

    guys please digg this. it explains how we have a 60% inflated oil price due to speculation
  • jana67, on 06/10/2008, -0/+2This is so unnecessary, the citizens of the USA are being ripped off and they don't even realize it...We don't need the Saudis, We have everything we need right in our reach, on our own soil! Wake Up America!! http://www.squidoo.com/the-energy-non-crisis/
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