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| Arabia | |
| Bush lodging oil price complaint with Saudi hosts | |
| 2008-01-15 | |
| Why? $100/bbl for oil is a license to build new nuclear power plants! Even the environuts can't complain much any more! President George W. Bush complained on Tuesday about soaring oil prices and the threat posed to the U.S. economy during the second day of his visit to Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter. Although considerable, the US isn't the only economy out there that matters, W.
Bush's overnight stay at Abdullah's Al Janadriyah "horse farm" near Riyadh on Tuesday had been envisioned as a chance to set aside talk of Middle East peace, Iranian challenges and controversial arms deals that dominated the first day of his visit. But Bush made clear he wanted to talk about a subject that has emerged increasingly as an irritant in otherwise close relations between Washington and the Islamic kingdom, which is the de facto head of OPEC. "I would hope, as OPEC considers different production levels, that they understand that if their -- one of their biggest consumers' economy suffers, it will mean less purchases, less oil and gas sold," Bush said. Oh, I'm sure they have it all figured out better than even you, W. Who's your audience, anyway? When Bush Oil is now hovering near $100 a barrel and many Americans are griping about their tax dollars helping to underwrite the defense of wealthy Gulf allies. Have them pay a portion of the costs. Bush, whose country is the world's largest energy consumer, may well want to quiz the Saudis on how they can tame oil prices that are an added blow to a U.S. economy that some economists say is tilting toward recession. In his visit to Abdullah's retreat, Bush will get a taste of how the royals live in the world's richest oil-producing monarchy Even the Arabian stallions the king raises at his Al Janadriyah "horse farm" near Riyadh lead lives of luxury. They are kept in climate-controlled, air-conditioned stables and are treated to aqua-therapy. The special hospitality is for a U.S. president who hosted Abdullah as crown prince in Crawford, Texas, in 2002 and 2005. Bush, spending the rest of Tuesday sightseeing and visiting with U.S. embassy staff, has already given his royal host good reason to be pleased. Trying to counter Iran's growing military clout in the region, Bush made clear on Monday his commitment to go ahead with a major arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Just hours after his arrival in Riyadh, the U.S. administration said it notified Congress of its intention to offer the Saudis a package of advanced weaponry as part of a multibillion-dollar deal with Gulf Arab allies. The deal, covering 900 precision-guided bomb kits worth about $120 million, has raised concerns in Israel and its U.S. supporters about the military balance of power in the region. The sale is part of Bush's effort to persuade Saudi Arabia to help contain Iran, a strident U.S. foe. Acknowledging progress in neighboring Iraq, Bush sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Baghdad on a mission to try to build on what his administration sees as progress on political reconciliation, the White House said. Bush wants Saudi Arabia to cajole other Arab states into bolstering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that he hopes, in the face of deep skepticism, will yield a final deal before he leaves office in January 2009. Mindful of Saudi Arabia's strategic importance, Bush has avoided direct criticism of its human rights record during his trip. His last stop will be Egypt on Wednesday before heading home to Washington. | |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #11 W does what he can to keep the oil flowing out of Islamist lands. The Islamists don't intend to give it away, no sir. Short of a real substitute for jihadi oil, the dilemma continues. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2008-01-15 23:09 |
| #10 CH3CH2OH |
| Posted by: DMFD 2008-01-15 19:31 |
| #9 Hey, even environuts have to pay the bills! :-) |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-01-15 14:15 |
| #8 Stop smoking that stuff. It will stunt your (Mental)growth. There, fixed it for You. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-01-15 14:15 |
| #7 "Even the environuts can't complain much any more!" Stop smoking that stuff. It will stunt your growth. |
| Posted by: Kelly 2008-01-15 14:03 |
| #6 Darn good question. |
| Posted by: Kelly 2008-01-15 14:02 |
| #5 Even the Arabian stallions the king raises at his Al Janadriyah "horse farm" near Riyadh lead lives of luxury. They are kept in climate-controlled, air-conditioned stables and are treated to aqua-therapy. Compare and contrast to the treatment of Phillipine and Indian guest workers. Or Christians. Ask George if he took his Bible. Saudis. feh. /spit |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-01-15 13:31 |
| #4 Are these the same guys they showed on tv this morning with whom president bush was walking hand-in-hand with a ridiculously large sword in his (bush's) other hand? All I saw was video (sound turned down but CBS, so who needed it). I don't care how many layers of loose fitting clothes they put on, it was a line dance of a bunch of rich fat arabs - with no rhythm. Maybe when the soddy king stops buy to pick up the keys to his new f-16s they can throw him in some Wranglers jeans, some boots and hat, and take him out to Lubbuck for some BBQ, rodeo, and a Tech game. "Sure king, your bomb codes are roped onto that greased pig - I suggest trying to grab the ears..." |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-01-15 11:30 |
| #3 The radio pundit is half right. Demand is driven by market forces. Supply isn't. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-01-15 10:48 |
| #2 This news was reported on the radio this morning as Bush wasting his time, because - according to two quoted experts, and please be seated - oil prices are driven by market forces. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-01-15 10:40 |
| #1 Yeah, Abdullah will surely let us off the hook. That's what you do when you have your arch religious enemy over the barrel after all. |
| Posted by: Theper McGurque1128 2008-01-15 09:18 |