First Iran know Saudi Arabia?

Interesting, amusing, conflicting, and perhaps a bit disturbing are the words that first come to mind when attempting to articulate the current stance Saudi Arabia has taken in demonstrating its unwillingness to increase oil production, even for its “friend” and “ally” the United States.

In his second visit this year to the Saudi Monarchy, US President George Bush pressed for an increase in oil production as a means of lessening the unyielding costs American drivers are frequently incurring. While the demand clearly exists, many high ranking Saudi officials see no need for such an increase, claiming that until customer demand exemplifies such a need, amplification of the current production system will remain idle.

“Supply and demand are in balance today” said Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi. As if to suggest to the international consumer that the rising price of gasoline has no direct link to the desert kingdoms lack luster desire for additional distribution. Even though at the present rate of 9.45 million barrels a day, the Saudi Kingdom continues to fall short roughly 2 million barrels of production capacity every day.

Despite the obvious need and overwhelming desire expressed by countries like the United States, China, and India, Saudi Arabia and other resource rich countries continue to turn a blind eye. Not only does this demonstrate their true colors - that of exploitation and unregulated greed - toward both friend and foe alike, but at the same time serves to highlight the unfortunate reality we are now required to deal with. You see, we've already sold ourselves short. Rather than enforcing the need to internally build upon the assets and natural wealth this country already possesses, we’ve instead chosen to play cards with the black-jack dealers of: Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela. Where once we held the keys to levy the terms and conditions by which the international game would be dealt, we know find ourselves playing with anything but house money. Leaving us not only indebted to the demands and un-American interests of foreign based havens of totalitarian control and terrorist intent, but we now too must meet head-on the many challenging aspects of a historically overdue road, sure to be plagued by complicated decision making, the risk of economic recessional downturn, and an environment that has already proven to be anything but conducive to the needs of a struggling superpower.

In a world whereby friends can overnight morph into enemies, it becomes hard to argue the relevancy of realist theory. But for those whose hope isn’t built upon constant chaos and self-interest I ask you this…..what world are you living on?