Bush’s Energy Policy: Begging for More Oil

[marmar]

from AlterNet's PEEK:



Bush’s Energy Policy: Begging for More Oil

Posted by Scarecrow , Firedoglake at 6:18 AM on January 16, 2008.

If the GOP assumes they can separate Bush's catastrophic polices from the damage those policies have on the US economy, they're in for a surprise.




President Bush was in Saudi Arabia yesterday to pursue the linchpin of his Administration's energy policy: He asked the Saudis to produce more oil. Roughly translated, the Saudis said, "No. We will do it only if it's in our interest, not yours."

As Hillary Clinton noted in last night's Democratic debate, Bush has been reduced to pathetically begging the Saudis to sell us more oil at nearly $100 per barrel. The image is even uglier when one realizes that some portion of that record price may consist of risk premia caused by the Administration's own war mongering, including pumping up an obviously ambiguous naval incident with Iran, another of the world's largest oil producers.

At the same time, Secretary Rice showed up in Baghdad, ostensibly to take credit for the Iraqi Parliament's approval of a law that, according to some Iraqis, does not go far enough in undoing the damage Jerry Bremer, Bush's hand picked proconsul, caused in banning Baathists from the Iraqi government. Instead of reconciling, the Iraqis are now arguing whether the new law includes or excludes more Sunnis from government.

But acknowledging such truths in not Rice's trade, and the law probably wasn't her main focus anyway. More likely, Rice was in Baghdad to press al Maliki's government to get Parliament to pass the oil law, which the Administration hopes will give US oil firms privileged access to develop Iraq's oil resources.

Under Bush/Cheney, US strategic energy policy thus consists of (1) selling the Saudis advanced weapons and arming, funding and protecting an 80,000 man Sunni militia in Iraq in exchange for the possibility of more oil from repressive dictatorships; (2) repeatedly threatening war against the next largest oil producer, Iran; and (3) maintaining an indefinite occupation that costs us $9 billion a month to preserve future access to Iraqi reserves. It would be hard to imagine a more irresponsible and costly strategic policy, nor one that endangers our security interests more, even if you don't count the cost in lives. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/73941/

[rodeodance]

1. AFP: Bush oil price 'begging' is 'pathetic' : Clinton

Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Bush oil price 'begging' is 'pathetic' : Clinton
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3142183#3142183
3142183, Bush oil price 'begging' is 'pathetic' : Clinton
Posted by rodeodance on Wed Jan-16-08 08:22 AM

Source: afp


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080116/pl_afp/usvotedemocratsbushoilopec_080116054209 ;_ylt=Alj_wEhpi9VzYDfbpwvC0I6s0NUE

Bush oil price 'begging' is 'pathetic' : Clinton

Wed Jan 16, 1:56 AM ET

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton on Tuesday accused President George W. Bush of "begging" for cuts in oil prices in "pathetic" encounters with Gulf leaders.

The former first lady hit out at the US president as he wrapped up a tour of the Middle East, during a 2008 Democratic presidential campaign debate here.

"President Bush is over in the Gulf now begging the Saudis and others to drop the price of oil," Clinton said. "How pathetic."

"We should have an energy policy right now, putting people to work in green collar jobs as a way to stave off the recession, moving us towards energy independence.".......

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080116/pl_afp/usvotedemocratsbushoilopec_080116054209 ;_ylt=Alj_wEhpi9VzYDfbpwvC0I6s0NUE

[DCKit]

3. Hey Hillary, your diplomacy is showing.

Bwahahahahahha. It's about time someone with MSM exposure outed that sad, angry, little man.

[ladjf]

2. "Begging for more profits for his oil buddies."