This brings to mind two things:

(1) If they think clearly, who do people really believe "controls" the government, if anyone could - the Israeli Lobby, or the Saudi/Petro-Lobby?

(2) If the war was about oil to a significant extent - and, given that nothing much of economic value grows in Arabia besides oil - might we not understand our efforts with respect to Iraq as a means of *diversifying* the oil sources, not monopolizing them (which is not how the oil market works anyway)?

Regarding (1), it is interesting to note the number and influence of Saudi-funded think tanks, professorial appointments, endowed university chairs, and straight-up cash-influenced politicians in Washington. Moreover, who but the Israeli Jews are their arch-enemy? Even conceding some measure of conspiracy-style influence to "the Jews," how could they possibly exert the kind of influence over EU, Japan, and USA that the House of Saud and its 20% of global oil deposits does?

With respect to (2), it is my firm belief that Russia stands to be most affected by the addition of the massive Iraqi oil output to the global market. Note that Gerhardt Schroeder was the first politician to really raise the anti-US specter in his re-election campaign; note too Europe's really imprudent dependency on Russian oil, not to mention that Schroeder went directly to work for Gazprom after Merkel's close victory.

The Russian state is essentially an FSB oil-well run like a gigantic mafia, and its fortunes closely track the value of a barrel of oil. The House of Saud, as this author points out, is even more transparently mafiosi and obviously entirely dependent on its oil. Both countries use their oil revenues explicitly as a weapon - Russia in the form of its relations with its near abroad (which it regards as Russia's fief), the Saudis viz a viz their American protector and their massive export and maintenance of the Wahhabi jihadi indoctrination.

C'mon. The culprits in this current phase of global nonsense are really obvious to those with eyes to see, the distracting media circus notwithstanding.

It is my firm belief that Russia stands to be most affected by the addition of the massive Iraqi oil output to the global market. Note that Gerhardt Schroeder was the first politician to really raise the anti-US specter in his re-election campaign; note too Europe's really imprudent dependency on Russian oil, not to mention that Schroeder went directly to work for Gazprom after Merkel's close victory.

Russia is a threat, but the media circus is occasionally willing to note that fact. So is the State Department. However, they're less willing to criticize Europeans who are close to Russia, like Schroeder.

The Saudi royals are rarely recognized as culprits. They're promoted as our best allies in the fight against Iran (and, since Russia is helping Iran, Russia) Most US stories about the Sauds appear to be copied directly from pro-Saudi State Department press releases. Most media reports about Israel read the same way.

When King Abdullah visited Britain, some interviewers actually asked him some hard questions. Around 100 human rights and anti-arms trade activists shouted "Shame on you" as Abdullah paraded around the mall. We never do anything like that. We really should. The Saudis and the Russians have similar goals, and neither is an ally. Israel is an ally. We have to get these things straight.

The Saudis are our enemies. I don't know much clearer it can be. However, we can't do a damned thing about them until and unless we wean ourselves off their oil crack pipe, and neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are willing to do anything to ensure that that happens.

BHG