[91B]

Right now the terrorists are hiding behind the robes of the royal family. If it costs us temporary access to Saudi oil to get rid of them (both the corrupt royals and the Islamikazi terrorists) I'm sure we'll recover within a few years. If they continue with the present arrangement they will be able to use oil revenues to export Wahibism and then we will have a much bigger problem on our hands.

[arthurus]

With the operations in Iraq and the ever increasing pressure on Syria and Iran we are trying to strangle them rather than hit them with an axe. The problem, of course is the fact that results are not instantaneous and the other enemy back home may cause the operation to be aborted before the results are in. And if we have to "suffer" from the lack of oil for a few years that gives AQ a great window for mischief. We will not knock out the Wahhabis or AQ by smacking down Arabia.

We will set them back a bit but if we are unable to respond rapidly and massively to situations because we lack the oil then we lose the little control we have in Pakistan and we lose authority in Korea and around Taiwan. China will be hurting for oil, too but if the Chinese Reds think that they can take Taiwan and push US out of Asia with one great spasm, they will do that and we will have to use nukes if we can muster the will. If Kerry or Mrs. Bill is pres and we are taking 911 hits at home we will but probably not judiciously. I don't count on W or a Republican followup doing it at all.