Relations with the Saudis, Kuwaitis, etc. will remain nominally friendly, and there won't be any nuking of Mecca or any of the other insane suggestions floating around on this thread.
But we understand the reason the Saudis and Kuwaitis oppose U.S. action against Saddam Hussein - when we depose Saddam Hussein, we will have control Iraq's oil fields, and that will hurt their cartel.
As the supply increases from the Iraqi fields, the prices of oil will drop, and that will help the U.S. economy while reducing our dependence on those other countries for our energy supply.
Now, there could be a temporary shortage during the conflict. It would have been useful to have gotten rid of Hugo Chavez before the action begins, but that's the breaks. So before the conflict begins, the strategic reserves will be replenished at least to the levels that existed prior to Clinton's depletion of them before the 2000 election. We will draw down from that, and Saddam will be gone before the reserve is empty.
Once the U.S. has control of the Iraqi supply, it will be time to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian problem without the threat of an Arab oil boycott that could devastate the economy and put a Democrat back in the White House.
After Saddam is gone, it will be possible to start bringing a sense of order and rationality to the Middle East.
There is no possible hope of bringing a sense of order or rationality to the Middle East.
The only possibilities are containment or destruction.Reality sometimes sucks, doesn't it?
This time around, barring a WMD attack on Kuwait, their production will probably be increased, at the behest of the Americans. Production of the emirates will also be increased. That leaves Saudi Arabia. They need the money, it is doubtful that they can afford to drop their production.
The USAF and the USN will be tasked with keeping the Gulf open to shipping, a job they did ten years ago with fewer bases and worse logistics. The strategic reserve will be around to pick up the slack in case a tanker or two is caught in the crossfire. Don't bet on an oil shortage.
Once we gain the control of Iraq's oil fields, it will sure be awfully nice to laugh at the Arabs who will see their cartel collapse.
Also, the OPEC cannot use oil embargo as a weapon aganist the United States as they did in the 70's.
If I was a president back then, I would attempt to seize the oil fields in all of the middle east. But the Soviet Union stood in our way.
The evil empire is no more today, and there's nothing in our way today!
Once the U.S. has control of the Iraqi supply, it will be time to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian problem without the threat of an Arab oil boycott that could devastate the economy and put a Democrat back in the White House.
Yes, that is the main reason why President Bush is putting the leash on Israel, at least until we take care of Saddam.
As the supply increases from the Iraqi fields, the prices of oil will drop, and that will help the U.S. economy while reducing our dependence on those other countries for our energy supply.
Can't wait. Next year is going to be an awfully good year for us! :-)