In the post-Cold War world, one nation bestrides the globe like a colossus. The United States is, in the words of Madeline Albright, “the indispensable nation.” If the US wants free trade, then, by God, free trade is the order of the day. When the US declares war on terrorism and President Bush vows that nations are either with us or against us, the armies of the world snap to attention. Watch Toady Blair, prime minister of that sceptered isle, that throne of kings, competing with Spot and Barney for the title of George W.’s favorite lapdog.
So what are we to think when Ariel Sharon, who depends both militarily and monetarily on the United States, defies President Bush, not once, but twice within a span of three days? We are to think that illiteracy is not among Mr. Sharon’s many deficits. He can read the polls and he can read the political wind on his moistened finger. Ariel Sharon knows the American right – Mr. Bush’s political base – supports the Israeli invasion of the West Bank. Mr. Sharon further knows many American Jews – whose votes Mr. Bush would like to have – also support the Israeli invasion. With George Bush caught in a political pincer, Mr. Sharon knows he is free to do as he pleases.
If Mr. Bush can’t trust his allies, whom can he trust? Apparently not his friends. On the home front, the price of gas has jumped 25 cents a gallon in the past month, the sharpest increase in a decade. Mr. Bush is trying to convince Americans that the economy is in recovery; gasoline price hikes don’t help. According to the Washington Post, oil companies are raising the price of gas because, well, because summer’s coming and people drive more in summer than winter. The oil industry is also tacking on what they call a “war premium” because of, you know, uncertainty in the Middle East. It was Mr. Bush who declared war on terrorism and it was Mr. Bush who said the war may last 20 or 30 years. Arco’s balance sheets ought to be in fine shape by then.
The average American driver probably won’t find much to cheer in the oil companies’ star-spangled “war premium.” Instead of patriotism, American motorists will probably see profiteering and price gouging. It doesn’t take a political scientist to find some overlap between drivers and voters and mid-term elections are less than seven months away. The oil industry, which worked so hard to get George Bush elected two years ago, may now cripple him with its shortsighted greed. Like the scorpion said, it’s in their nature.
George W. can’t rely on his allies and he can’t rely on his friends, but he can rely on his enemies, and this week Saddam Hussein came through for him, not that that’s a good thing. Mr. Hussein announced he’s shutting down Iraq’s oil exports for 30 days. He is uniquely able to turn his country’s oil supply on and off like a spigot because he doesn’t care about whatever suffering he may inflict on his people. Saddam’s stroke of evil genius will have two-fold effect – first, the price at the pump will shoot up. (We’ll be lucky if the oil companies don’t slap on a second “war premium.”) Second, Saddam will become an instant hero to those members of the Islamic community who are predisposed to hate America. In all likelihood, the Saudis will increase production to fill the shortfall, which will cause them be branded as American puppets and as soon as the gap is filled, Saddam will dump his oil on the world market, causing prices to plummet and economic instability to ensue. It’s going to be a fun summer.
In the Senate, Alaska’s Ted Stevens is waving the flag and thumping the tub and predicting a return to mile-long lines at filling stations unless we drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge immediately, if not sooner. Another shortsighted move by a friend and ally of the president. Most Americans oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge and while George W. supported it during the 2000 campaign, he’d probably just as soon table the whole thing until the middle of November.
An old cynic once advised that one should keep one’s friends close and one’s enemies even closer. These days, Mr. Bush may find both his friends and his enemies too close for comfort.
Friends Like These…
In the post-Cold War world, one nation bestrides the globe like a colossus. The United States is, in the words of Madeline Albright, “the indispensable nation.” If the US wants free trade, then, by God, free trade is the order of the day. When the US declares war on terrorism and President Bush vows that nations are either with us or against us, the armies of the world snap to attention. Watch Toady Blair, prime minister of that sceptered isle, that throne of kings, competing with Spot and Barney for the title of George W.’s favorite lapdog.
So what are we to think when Ariel Sharon, who depends both militarily and monetarily on the United States, defies President Bush, not once, but twice within a span of three days? We are to think that illiteracy is not among Mr. Sharon’s many deficits. He can read the polls and he can read the political wind on his moistened finger. Ariel Sharon knows the American right – Mr. Bush’s political base – supports the Israeli invasion of the West Bank. Mr. Sharon further knows many American Jews – whose votes Mr. Bush would like to have – also support the Israeli invasion. With George Bush caught in a political pincer, Mr. Sharon knows he is free to do as he pleases.
If Mr. Bush can’t trust his allies, whom can he trust? Apparently not his friends. On the home front, the price of gas has jumped 25 cents a gallon in the past month, the sharpest increase in a decade. Mr. Bush is trying to convince Americans that the economy is in recovery; gasoline price hikes don’t help. According to the Washington Post, oil companies are raising the price of gas because, well, because summer’s coming and people drive more in summer than winter. The oil industry is also tacking on what they call a “war premium” because of, you know, uncertainty in the Middle East. It was Mr. Bush who declared war on terrorism and it was Mr. Bush who said the war may last 20 or 30 years. Arco’s balance sheets ought to be in fine shape by then.
The average American driver probably won’t find much to cheer in the oil companies’ star-spangled “war premium.” Instead of patriotism, American motorists will probably see profiteering and price gouging. It doesn’t take a political scientist to find some overlap between drivers and voters and mid-term elections are less than seven months away. The oil industry, which worked so hard to get George Bush elected two years ago, may now cripple him with its shortsighted greed. Like the scorpion said, it’s in their nature.
George W. can’t rely on his allies and he can’t rely on his friends, but he can rely on his enemies, and this week Saddam Hussein came through for him, not that that’s a good thing. Mr. Hussein announced he’s shutting down Iraq’s oil exports for 30 days. He is uniquely able to turn his country’s oil supply on and off like a spigot because he doesn’t care about whatever suffering he may inflict on his people. Saddam’s stroke of evil genius will have two-fold effect – first, the price at the pump will shoot up. (We’ll be lucky if the oil companies don’t slap on a second “war premium.”) Second, Saddam will become an instant hero to those members of the Islamic community who are predisposed to hate America. In all likelihood, the Saudis will increase production to fill the shortfall, which will cause them be branded as American puppets and as soon as the gap is filled, Saddam will dump his oil on the world market, causing prices to plummet and economic instability to ensue. It’s going to be a fun summer.
In the Senate, Alaska’s Ted Stevens is waving the flag and thumping the tub and predicting a return to mile-long lines at filling stations unless we drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge immediately, if not sooner. Another shortsighted move by a friend and ally of the president. Most Americans oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge and while George W. supported it during the 2000 campaign, he’d probably just as soon table the whole thing until the middle of November.
An old cynic once advised that one should keep one’s friends close and one’s enemies even closer. These days, Mr. Bush may find both his friends and his enemies too close for comfort.