Ever wonder why we let Saudi Arabia get away with shit and get pissy at Iran? [PIC]

[Ardentfrost]

http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-con...map01_1024.jpg

The pic shows who has the oil and who uses the oil. We, of course, use more than anyone else, but Saudi Arabia has far more than anyone else at 22.3% of the total world's remaining oil (twice as much as Iran, who is in second place).

I'm not saying that we should blame Saudi Arabia, however, we have far more reason to not like them in the war on terror than we do Iran. They had the predominant nationality in the terrorists involved in 9/11, yet we claim they are "one of our biggest allies in the middle east." Our troops stationed there throughout the 90's is one of the cited reasons for an increased sympathy to the "terrorist cause." We haven't so much as investigated if they have ties to groups attacking the US, but we supply them with billions of dollars in weapons.

I really don't WANT us to attack Saudi Arabia, I'm just pointing out that who we blame is retarded. Iran is an easy direction to point a finger because they've been outspoken about their distaste with American foreign policy since the coup d'etat. But to get pissed at Iran, but give Saudi Arabia free reign makes no sense as far as the War on Terror is concerned.

Anyhow, the pic speaks volumes as to why we massage the balls of Saudi Arabia while we piss off others. Oil is mighty.

Additional Thought: I'd like to see a pic like that, but rate usage on per capita... we're the third most populous nation in the world, so of course we're gonna use the shit out of some oil.

[6SpeedTA95]

Your map is wrong...here's a more accurate view but it is still not entirely accurate as this encompasses traditional reserves and only the few tarsand/shale sites that have been estimated.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/reserves.html

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by The pic I posted

Source BP Statistical Review Year End 2004 & Energy Information Administration

The numbers from yours isn't that different, you're arguing fractions of a percent in the ones I saw.

Doesn't change my post at all.

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

The numbers from yours isn't that different, you're arguing fractions of a percent in the ones I saw.

Doesn't change my post at all.

Yea, I understand your point, I just wanted to post more accurate numbers.

[abregar]

Part the reason has got to be the oil. I am not going to deny that. I just don't believe that is the only factor in play here. Surely the fact that Iran does support terrorism and is trying to develop nuclear weapons is taken into account.

[Ardentfrost]

The nuke thing confuses me too... Pakistan has one and that is where (supposedly) Osama Bin Laden fled, but we're all candycanes and butterflies when it comes to relations with them

[abregar]

I see your point. Perhaps it has something to do with their assistiance with the war in Aghanistan. In addition I don't think the government of Pakistan supports terrorism, at least if they do I've never heard of it. Apparently pakistan does not have oil so that can't be a factor.

[6SpeedTA95]

Also if it were about oil why would we not buddy up to Iran they've got plenty of oil...some of the largest proven reserves in the world.

[abregar]

At this point I don't think we could buddy up to Iran. They would be tremendously suspicious of us. Also Congress would sabotage any effort at friendship we might make. They have a problem, they can't seem to keep their mouth shut. Our diplomats would make progress only to have Congress open their mouth and insert foot.

[thomez]

from July/August Foreign Policy magazine:

gasoline consumption in millions of gallons per day (in 03, latest available numbers)

United States = 346.3

Japan 41.8
China 35
Canada 27.6
Russia 24.1
Germany 24.1
Mexico 23.6
Britain 18.7
Italy 14.5
Iran 14.1
Australia 13.0
France 11.3
Brazil 11.1
Saudi Arabia 10.7
Indonesia 10.1
Venezuela 9.5
India 7.4
Spain 7.4
Taiwan 7.0
South Africa 7.0
South Korea 6.7

notice that the US exceeds the total of the next 20 countries combined

[garbagemanlb]

I for one am shocked that oil plays a part in our foreign policy.

While Saudi Arabia continues to fund terrorism and radical religious schools we supply them with multi-billion dollar arms deals while patting ourselves on the back for having such a good and true friend in the region.

[garbagemanlb]

But nah....Iran is the problem.

[Nonphixion]

Originally Posted by abregar

I see your point. Perhaps it has something to do with their assistiance with the war in Aghanistan. In addition I don't think the government of Pakistan supports terrorism, at least if they do I've never heard of it. Apparently pakistan does not have oil so that can't be a factor.

Err.. you do realized that Pakistan IS the Taliban?

Their government funded agency called the Inter-Services Intelligence, trains Taliban fighters and Pakistanis themselves participate in Taliban activities.

The Taliban = Pakistan

This is the act of Osama Bin Laden escaping into Pakistan with 500 of his cohorts

YouTube Video

These are the governmental ties between General Pervez Musharaf and Bin Laden

YouTube Video

It also outlines how $100,000 was wired from the Pakistani Government to the 19 9.11 Hijackers in Florida to pay for rent, food, and pilot/hijack-training.

[abregar]

Originally Posted by Nonphixion

Err.. you do realized that Pakistan IS the Taliban?

Their government funded agency called the Inter-Services Intelligence, trains Taliban fighters and Pakistanis themselves participate in Taliban activities.

The Taliban = Pakistan

This is the act of Osama Bin Laden escaping into Pakistan with 500 of his cohorts

YouTube Video

These are the governmental ties between General Pervez Musharaf and Bin Laden

YouTube Video

It also outlines how $100,000 was wired from the Pakistani Government to the 19 9.11 Hijackers in Florida to pay for rent, food, and pilot/hijack-training.

No I was not aware of that. Do you have links to that information? I am not calling you a liar. I just want to look at it myself. That just does not make since considering that Pakistan allowed us to base from there during the invasion of Afghanistan.

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by thomez

from July/August Foreign Policy magazine:

gasoline consumption in millions of gallons per day (in 03, latest available numbers)

United States = 346.3

Japan 41.8
China 35
Canada 27.6
Russia 24.1
Germany 24.1
Mexico 23.6
Britain 18.7
Italy 14.5
Iran 14.1
Australia 13.0
France 11.3
Brazil 11.1
Saudi Arabia 10.7
Indonesia 10.1
Venezuela 9.5
India 7.4
Spain 7.4
Taiwan 7.0
South Africa 7.0
South Korea 6.7

notice that the US exceeds the total of the next 20 countries combined

Thats a bit misleading given the fact that in many of those countries individuals dont own cars because they can't afford it. Furthermore the tax rates there fund a substantial amount of public transportation eliminating much of the need for daily car travels but they do use extensive electricity/diesel in other countries.

[Ardentfrost]

Iran has plenty of oil, sure, but only half as much as Saudi Arabia. If we're going to go gallivanting through the middle east tearing down nations, we're obviously picking nations that wouldn't effect our economy as much as others, despite the better REASONS for places like Saudi Arabia.

But about the nukes, seriously, if Pakistan can have one and one hasn't been used by terror groups yet, then I'm not afraid of Iran getting one. Let's not forget that Iran was the FIRST middle eastern nation to go public after 9/11 and say that the tragedy was horrible and uncalled for. As rocky as our past has been in the previous 50 years, they publicly said 9/11 was bad...

[abregar]

Personally I would feel safer if no country in that region had nukes. The middle east is just to unstable to allow them to have such a powerful weapon. I'm not just talking the muslim countries. I'm also talking about Israel, I do believe that if nuclear war were to breakout it would be over there. Not one single country has the maturity to handle a nuke.

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

The nuke thing confuses me too... Pakistan has one and that is where (supposedly) Osama Bin Laden fled, but we're all candycanes and butterflies when it comes to relations with them

they ALREADY have nukes. Iran doesnt have nukes currently. You dont see the difference ?

[Joe_Cool]

Originally Posted by abregar

Personally I would feel safer if no country in that region had nukes. The middle east is just to unstable to allow them to have such a powerful weapon. I'm not just talking the muslim countries. I'm also talking about Israel, I do believe that if nuclear war were to breakout it would be over there. Not one single country has the maturity to handle a nuke.

Israel has likely had nuclear weapons for a long time, and hasn't used them yet. I think war has broken out, too, at least once.

[Joe_Cool]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Iran has plenty of oil, sure, but only half as much as Saudi Arabia. If we're going to go gallivanting through the middle east tearing down nations, we're obviously picking nations that wouldn't effect our economy as much as others, despite the better REASONS for places like Saudi Arabia.

But about the nukes, seriously, if Pakistan can have one and one hasn't been used by terror groups yet, then I'm not afraid of Iran getting one. Let's not forget that Iran was the FIRST middle eastern nation to go public after 9/11 and say that the tragedy was horrible and uncalled for. As rocky as our past has been in the previous 50 years, they publicly said 9/11 was bad...

Pakistan's leaders haven't publicly vowed to wipe another country off the map.