U.S. and Saudi Arabia

Jackie Pies

President Bush might not have turned up personally in Riyadh yesterday but he certainly sent a high-powered delegation to pay his respects to the new leader of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah.

Skip to next paragraph Saudi Press Agency, via Associated Press
Vice President Dick Cheney was among the American delegation paying respects Friday to the Saudi leader, King Abdullah.


Saudi Arabia currently produces about nine million barrels a day, or 11 percent of world production.




The American turnout, led by Vice President Dick Cheney, former President George H. W. Bush, and former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, was the latest signal that relations between the two countries have thawed since the strains of 9/11. But it was also an acknowledgment of a simple fact: like it or not, the United States is more dependent than ever on Saudi Arabia.
Indeed, the alternatives to Saudi Arabia are fewer today than seemed to be the case just three years ago. Predictions of a boom in Iraqi oil have been proved wrong; Iran, OPEC's second-largest oil producer, is locked on a collision course with the West; Venezuela is following an erratic path; and Russia's commitment to market reforms and foreign investments seems increasingly unreliable.

All this has added to Saudi Arabia's already impressive clout. What is more, other powers - mainly from Asia - seek greater access to its resources and have been increasingly courting the Saudis. "They can play the United States against other buyers, like China," Mr. Seznec said. "And why wouldn't they?"



what should we do? alternative energy sources, not for awhile, at least no effective ones for awhile.
I say we bomb the crap out of them, but that's why I 'll never be able to run for office.

AudioSavior

Prince Charles was also there. The guy is a king n shit. It is just politics really. No big deal.