Bush Doctrine, R.I.P.

Worldnet Daily ^ | 4/2/2003 | Pat Buchanan

[nathanbedford]

My position on the Arab/Israeli conflict is simple and straightforward: absolute strict neutrality. I don't want anything to do with an ethno-religious tribal feud that dates back for millenia. And I deeply resent anybody who attempts to draw me into it on one side or the other.

Amen

[Mr. Thorne]

agreed

[traditionalist]

Wonder how Iraqi oil will change the Saudi equasion and opec?

Saudi Arabia still controls about 30% of the world's known oil reserves, so even if we get Iraq pumping at full capacity (which won't happen for a couple years), taking Saudi oil off the market would send prices skyrocketing.

The way I see it, there're only two ways to reduce Saudi geopolitical importance:

1) Explore, explore, and explore some more until the Saudis account for a small portion of exploitable world oil, something like 5%.

2) Reduce dependence on oil from any source. Merely reducing the amount we buy from the Saudis won't help as long as the Saudis continue such a huge market share. Oil is a highly fungible commodity and the market is highly liquid. Therefore a large reduction in oil output, even if limited to a supplier from whom we do not buy, will have a large impact on the price.

[Commander8]

Once Iraq is "liberated" there will be a brief honeymoon that will last no longer than a month, then the Shiites are going to decide that the Iraqi middle class that our government is going to be depending on for the rebuilding of this country, are no-good infidels and they will be attacking this middle class. After that, the Kurds are going to decide they want their own country and they'll start border problems with Turkey just to get it. Our troops will be smack dab in the middle of this and our resources would be spread to thin to deal with Iran or North Korea.

[Celtman]

then the Shiites are going to decide that the Iraqi middle class that our government is going to be depending on for the rebuilding of this country, are no-good infidels and they will be attacking this middle class.

      Ah, yes.  Quite likely.  How soon we forget.  Iran was becoming Westernized until the Shiites, under "ayatolah" Khomeni, took over.  But, now, the Shiites of Iraq are the enemy of our enemy, so they must be our friends, right?

[traditionalist]

Iran was becoming Westernized until the Shiites, under "ayatolah" Khomeni, took over.

You should read more about the history of the Iranian Islamic revolution. It did not have much popular support; only 25% or so of the population was for it. Most people supported the Shah, who was friendly with the US. Without the help of the KGB, the revolution would never have succeeded.

Iran is nearly 100% Shiite, and today as before a large majority is against the theocratic government. The Shah's son is also a highly popular figure there.

Iraq's Shiites are of a simlar disposition. On the whole they are not prone to radicalism and anti-Americanism.

[traditionalist]

the Shiites are going to decide that the Iraqi middle class that our government is going to be depending on for the rebuilding of this country, are no-good infidels and they will be attacking this middle class.

I somehow doubt it, because much of the middle class is Shiite.

[Celtman]

... the Iranian Islamic revolution ... did not have much popular support; only 25% or so of the population was for it.

      And it made no difference at all how many were for the Islamic revolution and how many were against it. 

In Afghanistan, the U.S. is paying the salary of the head of the Supreme Court, who is trying to forbid the broadcasting of female vocalists, has embraced flogging, amputation, and stoning, and threatened to "behead" non-Muslims who refuse to submit to his version of Islam. Since he views the law as divinely ordained, any critic can be charged with blasphemy, which has already happened to one cabinet minister."

      And if the U.S. follows the same functional policies (regardless of the rhetoric) in Iraq as in Afganistan ... the disposition of the typical Iraqi will be irrelevant.