Mark Steyn: We've created a monster

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 10/21/2001 | Mark Steyn

[Pokey78]

Ping.

[corkoman]

but Steyn is against exploring for oil in ANWAR?

[mountaineer]

American know-how fueled Saudi Arabia's rapid transformation from reactionary feudal backwater into the world's most technologically advanced and spectacularly wealthy reactionary feudal backwater. They've still got beheadings every Friday but the schedule is computerized.

Well put.

[kayak]

the United States has put all its eggs into one basket case

Steyn certainly has a way with words!

In view of the price of gasoline in this country (I paid $1.07/gal to fill up my car yesterday ..... on 9/11 the price was something like $1.35) ..... I wonder if the Saudis are playing a very important behind-the-scenes role ...... one that allows them to spout whatever they want for public consumption as long as they give us oil.

Whatever the case may be, I salute Mayor Guiliani for handing that check back ..... that was a class act!

[Patria One]

This is quite a hate piece.

[flamefront]

Perhaps giving bin Laden what he wants -- destroying the Saudi leadership -- might just be the kind of thing that would give the U.S. 'coalition' du jour the sanction to clean up the Saudi (oil) mess completely and without opposition from other countries.

[Benrand]

Oooh, that hurt...

[Praxeologue]

but Steyn is against exploring for oil in ANWAR?

Is he?

[samtheman]

We've got to drill ANWR.

We've got to make it clear to Scumbia Arabia that they will be held responsible for any major bio-attack on the USA.

We've got to make it clear to Scumbia Arabia that We-The-American-People want to Nuke Mecca.

We've got to withdraw the welcome mat from Scumbag visitors.

[TomB]

but Steyn is against exploring for oil in ANWAR?

Of course not. What makes you say that?

Bush is right to put his foot on the gas

[Amelia]

Steyn has spelled this out very well. Question is, does our government see it?

[CBF]

$1.07 for gas? I've been back home to the States 3 times in the last 12 months, summer 2000 - Gas $1.75 up in Seattle, Christmas 2000 Gas $1.69-Seattle and Summer 2001 $1.69. Now your saying that it is down around $1.07 -- where? and what have your gas prices been?

I find it interesting that after having a conservative in office 9 months the gas prices are returning to prices not seen in the last 3 years. Isn't this news? Or am I giving the talking heads on the major news networks to much credit for being the evil bastards we all know they are?

[blam]

The house of SAUD is in big trouble. Even 'big daddy' Amin has decided to leave. Expect big changes before this over.

[RCW2001]

Paid $1.02 a couple of days ago in Lansing, MI. I understand that some midwest states under $1.00.

Thats now...who knows what tomorrow will bring.

[BigWaveBetty]

But let's take up Prince Alwaleed's suggestion to ''address some of the issues.''

Let's not and say we did. Sorry that sentence was as far as I could get without puking.

[katykelly]

Thanks for the link.

[dbbeebs]

We've got to make it clear to Scumbia Arabia that they will be held responsible for any major bio-attack on the USA.

Evidence that they are responsible?

We've got to make it clear to Scumbia Arabia that We-The-American-People want to Nuke Mecca.

Great. Nuke their holy city based upon no evidence.

[537 Votes]

This is one place where American intervention is surely justified. This is our monster. We created it. We should destroy it.

Have our troops move in on the oil fields. Freeze the assets of the Saudi princes. Distribute the profits equally among the people of Saudi Arabia -- perhaps all of Arabia. Set the stage for free elections.

If anyone wonders why the US can't call for democracy against the Taliban, Saddam, and other repressive dictatorships, it's because of our support for Saudi Arabia.

If we're going to protect the flow of oil, there are other ways to do it that are more honest and less injurous to people than supporting the Saudi regime.

One thing to keep in mind, though: half the world's oil comes from Saudi Arabia. Imagine the world getting by, at least in the short term, on half as much gasoline as it does now. How would your lifestyle change if you had to get by on half as much gas? There's going to be risk of great sacrifice involved in any action that destabilize the Peninsula.