Middle East

We have a significant national-interest in the middle
east.

The present global socio-economic-industrial
infrastructure is dependent on cheap, abundant oil,
for which the middle east is the world's primary
source of this finite resource.  At present oil
consumption rates, there's around another 30 years
supply at the most.  

After the demand for oil ends, whether due to eventual
depletion, new energy sources, or some voluntary
global simplification and return to a local focus, the
world will ignore the middle east, as it does many
other local crisis areas.

Until we're weaned from oil, we're stuck with the
concept that we will be sending large amounts of money
to an area where we're considered less than human
because we will not follow their religious
interpretations.  That money IS being used to fund
their war against us.  We can and are working on
alternatives, and it is possible to operate a
high-tech civilization on them, but not one of the
extent and population present today.  

WE don't stop buying because the oil is what keeps our
economy going.

THEY don't stop selling because other than the oil,
they have nothing significant to sell.

The solution is not going to come from your national
government, big business, etc.  The bulk of the
population is going to object, whine, riot, (insert
your own phrase) but we ARE going to have to
eventually accept living without oil.

Absent a leap in science, the solution is a personal
choice to live a much less energy-intensive,
consumption oriented lifestyle.  Look at what has
long-term value, and what does not.   Look at what can
and should be sustained, and what cannot.  

The future will be what we make it, just as our
present mess is the logical outcome of the poor
decisions of our predecessors and our ongoing
activities.




--- Kit <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> Les,
> 
> There was never any threat to our freedom from Iraq.
>   There were plenty of
> CIA reports to support "no threat", and advice that
> such a war would only
> foment more hatred towards us and create a new
> generation of terrorists.
> 
> The prediction certainly appears to be coming true!!
> 
> Our foreign policy often involves nothing to do with
>  threats to our
> freedom.
> ....except the freedom for multinationals to
> increase their profit margins.
> 
> The only threats to our freedoms come from within
> our own government.
> Ever hear of the Patriot Act?   First the war on
> drugs, now the war on
> terrorism
> is being used to chip away at our freedoms.
> (Just an aside, ever notice that the police are
> looking more and more like
> the military?)
> 
> Grover Norquist, a financial advisor to this
> administration and "field
> marshall" to the Bush
> Tax Plan,  says, "My goal is to cut government in
> half in twenty-five
> years,to get it
> down to the size where we can drown it in the
> bathtub."  (hang on, my point
> is coming)
> His ilk wish to privatize Social Security, Medicare,
> Education and, of
> course, to implement
> deregulation on a major scale.  (here 'tis)  The
> only sector they want run
> by the government, via our
> tax dollars is the military and the police.  Yup, a
> federal police force!
> 
> So if you're thinking the bogeyman lies outside our
> borders, time to start
> reading up.
> Turn off the TV and start reading the foreign press
> and alternative press.
> 
> Our military industrial complex spends an obscene
> amount of money...
> while our environmental and social programs falter.
> 400 billion dollars of our annual budget is for the
> Pentagon.
> 
> The military expenditures of the following:
> Russia: 7 billion (an ally)
> China:  5 billion (major trading partner)
> The "axis of evil" countries combined:  750 million
> 
> Oh yeah....other tax dollar figures:
> K-12 education:  3.5 billion
> World hunger:      1 billion
> Alternative energy  250 million
> Children's healthcare 4 billion
> Head Start             750 million
> 
> And, truly I mean no offense either...but where lies
> the real naivete...in
> this discussion.
> 
> Our foreign policy in the Middle East has more to do
> with the pro-Israeli
> neocons
> that hold high positions of influence in our
> government.
> 
> I understand that the military must be made to
> believe in what they are
> fighting
> for....it is truly unfortunate that most do not
> realize the real goals in US
> invasions.
> 
> Peace, Love, Joy,
> Kit
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Les Cardwell" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 11:46 AM
> Subject: RE: [Ecobal]Letter to the Editor
> 
> 
> > Rob,
> >
> > No offense, and I won't belabor the points, but
> your POV is unfortunately
> > stereotypical (also biased and objectively naive)
> of many I've known who
> > haven't served, and especially those whose
> families haven't served in
> > several generations. I also know that no amount of
> debate will alter their
> > opinion... only direct experience would. Freedom
> isn't free, and while
> there
> > are political atrocities, it's a tad too easy to
> sit here in the comfy US
> > and judge those who maintain that freedom...
> >
> > Peace :)
> >
> > Les
> >
> 
> 
> 


=====
Ronald Frederick Greek
Yuma, Arizona, USA
Attorney at Law


	
		
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