Weak Position

collapse, economy, impeachment, right wing dingalings May 16th, 2008

Invading Iraq was supposed to give us cheaper gas and greater energy. It was supposed to enhance our strength in the Middle East.

That must explain why, for the second time in a row, the President has gone begging to the Saudis for more oil, and for the second time in a row, has been rebuffed.

President Bush’s second stab this year at getting oil-rich Saudi Arabia to increase production and drive down the soaring gasoline prices hurting U.S. consumers appears to have again failed.

Saudi Arabian leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing Mr. Bush, the White House said.

During Mr. Bush’s second personal appeal this year to King Abdullah, Saudi officials stuck to their position that they are already meeting demand, the president’s national security adviser told reporters.
[snip]
Anthony Cordesman, a security analyst for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Abdullah may produce something “simply because it’s good manners,” but nothing that would have a significant effect.

“U.S. influence over OPEC and Gulf oil production is diminished,” he said. “It’s not clear what the incentive is to Saudi Arabia. We can’t deliver on (Mideast) peace. We can’t deliver on arms transfers. We can’t deliver on the Iraq that Saudi Arabia wants. We are raising problems in terms of Iran. And the reality is the market isn’t being driven by us; it’s being driven by China, by India, by rising Asian demand.”

Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS’ Middle East program, said the Saudis, with a public that doesn’t like Mr. Bush and a ruling monarchy with growing interests elsewhere, are not likely “to put themselves out to help this president.”

“The Saudis don’t have an alternative to keeping the U.S. in its corner, but their reliance on the United States, their confidence in the United States is extremely shaken,” Alterman said.

Ooops.

One Response to “Weak Position”

  1. somegirl Says:
    May 16th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    i think the exact quote from abdullah was “bwahahahahahaha”.

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