There are a couple of facts about the Middle East which some people may want to keep in mind. Not all of us, but some.

First, a good deal of the energy consumed by the US comes from there, and we are very sensitive to any blips in either the supply or price.

Second, gas is around $1.40, $1.50 in the US. It's around $4.00 in the rest of the world. Even though we claim to be the richest country in the world, we act completely gut-shot when that price gets near $1.75.

Third, we have, maybe, three friends in the Middle East. First, Israel, as long as we funnel her at least $3 billion a year. And, you've noticed how much attention Israel pays to GWB. He may as well be Tweetie Pie.

Second, the leadership of Jordan is sort of pro-US, as are many of the people.

Third, some of the Saudi Arabian leadership. Not the people.

That's it. Kuwait - doesn't really care, Yemen - goes to whoever can put pressure on it, Bahrain - not significant unless you lose the rest of them. Then to cover your ass you'll talk about how significant, strategic, important Bahrain is.

Since Jordan ain't all that hot, and Saudi's don't really care about us, it wouldn't take much and the US wouldn't have a friend in the area.

True, they want to sell oil. And since the US buys it, one could say they are forced to sell it to us. But, for what price. They limit production, the price goes up, and we beg Saudi Arabia to open the spigots. And, she often does, and the price goes down, much to the chagrin of her neighbors.

Since we don't want to pay a fortune for oil, it might behoove some folks to tone down the rhetoric. The US may not want to make any more enemies over there than we have to. If the price of energy skyrockets the damage done by WTC will seem tame.

Unless GWB can get his buddies hands on Iraqi oil. That could take a while.

Arf