The Europeans (And Americans) Are Finding That It's Pretty Hard To Tell Your Drug Dealer To "F*ck Off"

Ah, the old ways of doing business in the energy sector!

Ah, the way it drives the West's foreign policy!

What an absolute BITCH!

If you want to understand 9/10ths of Europe's underwhelming response to Russia's invasion and occupation of a sovereign state friendly with the EU and the USA, look no further than this quote on last night's NewsHour by The Heritage Foundation's Ariel Cohen:

Europe is already very dependent on Russian gas. One-third of European oil comes from Russia, 40 percent, in some cases, 99 percent of gas.

Noted: The whole NewsHour segment is worth the long listen or read.

Hey, it's hard for an addict to stand up to their dealer.

Hey, it's hard for the Europeans to go after their energy pusher, even when that energy pusher has invaded and occupied a friendly sovereign state.

Sigh.

Well, at least we American know what that's like.

Right Saudi Arabia?

Is anyone else tired of this?

Does anyone else think it's time for a Apollo-type crash program to move us off of fossil fuels entirely?

You betcha.

Oh My Silly American Friends! You Are Merely Addicts While We Are Dealers Sitting On Much Of The World's Oil Supply! Who Do You Think Makes The Rules?

"Choke on it!" says the king.

And, we are. So long as we remain addicted to his product.

Noted: Again, this is not a "Time To Drill More" post.

This is a "Time To Start An Apollo Type Crash Program To Get Us Off Fossil Fuels Entirely" post.

For You My American "Friend", We Saudis Have A Most Special, Special Deal!

Excellent!

Saudi Arabia's Royal Family continues to play an enormous role in our national and economic security.

Snark.

This isn't a "drill more at home" post. If that non-starter was such a good idea to bring down the cost of oil (five years from now), wouldn't the Saudis drilling more (right now) also bring down the price of oil?

Uh. Not according to Bloomberg.

Noted: What say you Phil Gramm & Doug Holtz-Eakin?

In any event, this is a "it's past time for a Apollo-type crash program to get us off fossil fuels entirely" post. Per GMP1 usual.

Get it?

Is Mike Huckabee About To Start Asking Some Really Difficult Questions About Saudi Arabia?

MSNBC just reported that the Huckabee campaign said today that their candidate would try to draw distinctions between himself and John McCain on the issue of immigration in South Carolina.

MSNBC further reported that one way Huckabee might do that is by supporting a temporary hold on legal immigration from countries that sponsor or harbor terrorists. Countries like Saudi Arabia.

This is an interesting development to say the least. And one that the Saudis won't be real thrilled about.

It's no secret in Washington that Saudi Arabia's geographic location and vast oil reserve make the Saudis an ally of necessity with the United States. Or so conventional wisdom goes.

It's also no secret that the Saudis spread a LOT of money around. Everywhere. To everyone.

What is less talked about, at least publicly, is how screwed up Saudi Arabia is at the present moment. And how Saudi Arabia's inability to keep their own house in order directly threatens the national security of the United States.

The Atlantic Monthly has a take here.

PBS's Frontline has a take here.

Not a lot of people in Washington want to have this conversation. First, so many people are dependent on the Saudis for their livelihood. Second, we're addicted to oil, which presents its own national security issues. And third, even really smart people disagree on how to deal with the fact that 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia.

But, in our always humble opinion, it's time that America started having this conversation. Plainly and publicly.

Which brings us back to a former Baptist preacher running for President. Who has almost nothing to lose highlighting the warts of "business as usual" between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

If Mike Huckabee can use the presidential campaign spotlight to start a serious discussion about America's relationship with Saudi Arabia we think that the voters will be well served.

It's about time that somebody did it.

Just like we think it's about time that the American economy moves off of fossil fuels. Entirely.

It's a national security issue.

We're just saying.