Article

2004-12-08 Arabia

Attack on US consulate in Saudi comes amid mounting anti-American feelings

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2004-12-08 12:22:02 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 If the attack would have been marginally successful (dead Americans), they would have had plenty of support.

Posted by Desert Blondie 2004-12-08 1:12:02 AM|| 2004-12-08 1:12:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Y'know, I can almost "see" the expats who work in the Dhahran Core Area coming out for a smoke - sticking closely together and slipping off to one side of the plaza area trying to be inconspicuous - and being eyeballed by the Saudis, who spend more time smoking than working. I'll bet the ongoing experience will give some of the expats the reason they've been looking for to quit. It sucked like an F5 the last year I was there (2003) - I'll bet it's 10x worse now. Everything comes to an end - time to leave, guys.

Posted by .com 2004-12-08 1:44:24 AM|| 2004-12-08 1:44:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Oddly enough, there is a matching rise in anti-Saudi sentiment in the States. Not just here at Rantburg, but in the mainstream -- my evidence being an anti-Saudi quip Jay Leno included in a recent monologue. Apparently, Leno's audience is Red Staters, so he tailors his jokes to appeal to the majority (albeit slim) of Americans. The Saudis would be wise to be more circumspect about their feelings: our soldiers are actually effective, our President has the elephant's memor, and Iraqi oil production is steadily increasing.

Posted by trailing wife 2004-12-08 7:20:06 AM|| 2004-12-08 7:20:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 reading today's rantburg, I do NOT understand why we simply don't make fuel cell technology available tomorrow. It would end this mess for once and for all. Nothing else will do it, except perhaps another form of fuel.

This is a mess. The leaders of these countries are evil and are more interested in assuring their own empires than they are interested in prosperity. And democracy threatens their power.

Our own countrymen on the left were raised in such a bubble that they are still scratching their heads and wondering why those peace birds did not work.

We need to get out of the middle east - and I don't mean troops - I mean oil. Let the Turks and Saudi's cut their deals with Russia and China only to find America kicking their behinds, once again, with superior technology.

Fuel cell and other technology IS currently available. The current oil companies could be kept busy in Alaska and the gulf. But what they already aren't supplying could be produced, here at home, within five years, if we really wanted. It would end this mess for once and for all.

I don't understand why Bush and our current elected officials do not embrace the idea of providing enough oil here at home to keep things moving AND also providing fuel cells and other forms of energy to make up the difference.

Jeesh...let's get a clue. These tyrants would nuke their own countries if they thought they could maintain their own power.

Posted by 2b 2004-12-08 7:39:06 AM|| 2004-12-08 7:39:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I do NOT understand why we simply don't make fuel cell technology available tomorrow.

Because it's not economically feasible.

Posted by Robert Crawford 2004-12-08 8:14:18 AM|| [http://www.kloognome.com/] 2004-12-08 8:14:18 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Oh.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-12-08 8:20:55 AM|| 2004-12-08 8:20:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 "I do NOT understand why we simply don't make fuel cell technology available tomorrow."
Because it does not create energy -- it takes it from a fuel like hydrogen, methane, or natural gas.

Posted by Tom 2004-12-08 8:48:06 AM|| 2004-12-08 8:48:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 and constant war in the middle east is economically viable?

You are using the same logic that dims use to oppose the war on terror. The plan isn't perfect so we should do nothing. It's clear that we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, even if we do drill Anwar. So let's get started now, instead of later.

Fuel cell technology isn't economically viable yet.

Posted by 2b 2004-12-08 8:54:54 AM|| 2004-12-08 8:54:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 2b, it ain't about the oil, it's about expansionist fascist islam. Sure, the Saudis and Iranians use the oil money to fund attacks, but even if the United States was 100% energy indepentant, some one would buy their oil. And they'd still be trying to kill us.

Posted by Steve 2004-12-08 10:24:49 AM|| 2004-12-08 10:24:49 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 When have there not been anti-american feelings in the ME? I am so sick of those people repeating the same bullshit. Those feelings have always been there. They just hide them when it is convenient... like for example when the US save their asses from other tyrants.

Posted by Anonymous4724 2004-12-08 10:28:46 AM|| 2004-12-08 10:28:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Steve,

So very true!

Posted by Anonymous4724 2004-12-08 10:31:27 AM|| 2004-12-08 10:31:27 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 They might still be trying to whack us, but we would be freer to whack them. We could put Plan DotCom into operation;-)

Posted by Spot 2004-12-08 10:59:54 AM|| 2004-12-08 10:59:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 Steve---you hit the nail on the head. The HUGE wealth transfers due to the sale of oil from a bunch of psychopaths is the issue. We in the industrialized are literally financing our own destruction. The US knows it. Australia knows it. Lots of countries know it. Lots of countries choose to ignore it. Countries like Communist China encourage it.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2004-12-08 11:45:30 AM|| 2004-12-08 11:45:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 we'd be much better off if we didn't need their oil. Plus, if we make new fuel techonologies available and they become cost effective, it would certainly devalue the price of their oil. It's a win/win all the way around. There would be plenty of work and markets left for you oil people if we open ANWAR and drill in the Gulf.

Posted by 2b 2004-12-08 12:49:18 PM|| 2004-12-08 12:49:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 Your sentiment is on mark, 2b, but as Steve says, even if we were energy independent, Islamofascists would still want the Caliphate, and would have plenty of money to terrorize. Certainly not as much, but think of countries that import oil. Off the top of my head, Japan, S. Korea, Italy, Spain, Germany, among others. They may not import all from the Kingdom, but as long as a large part of that oil comes from ME, there will be plenty of money available (How much did AQ need to commit 9/11?)from private parties to finance terrorism and countries (Syria, Iran) willing to aid and abet it.

Posted by chicago mike 2004-12-08 2:01:49 PM|| 2004-12-08 2:01:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 Increae in anti-American feelings? Must mean we are winning.

Posted by Capt America 2004-12-08 6:29:20 PM|| 2004-12-08 6:29:20 PM|| Front Page Top

06:02 reesh
23:52 Carl in N.H.
23:33 Bomb-a-rama
23:30 anonymous2U
23:21 Uleque Glavise4887
23:12 Alaska Paul
23:11 Bomb-a-rama
23:10 2b
23:06 Alaska Paul
23:06 Uleque Glavise4887
23:02 2b
23:00 True German Ally
22:57 gromky
22:54 Uleque Glavise4887
22:47 Uleque Glavise4887
22:46 Alaska Paul
22:36 Laurence of the Rats
22:23 gromky
22:13 Alaska Paul
22:09 Asedwich
22:07 smn
22:04 Frank G
21:43 Uleque Hupavise4887
21:42 Anonymoose