storm in a tea cup

Submitted by Faqi Hussain (United States), Sep 3, 2005 at 20:40

"The first two oil shocks [in the 1970s] were transitory, as political events encouraged oil producers to seize full sovereignty over their resources and temporarily restrict supply. This time around there won't be any tap that some appeased mullah or sheik can suddenly turn back on"

I cannot find anything wrong in the above statement of Mr. Rubin, for him to be sent to a re-education seminar and an apology - for what? Shame on CIBC.

If it isn't the Mullahs in Iran and the Sheiks in Saudi Arabia and other oil producing mid-east countries who control the flow of oil, who else does? Is that not a correct way to address these individuals. He did not call them 'idiots" or some other derogatory name.

I think its a term of respect to be called a Mullah or Sheik. What if someone refers to dictators, Prime-ministers or presidents in other countries that produce oil - then what. Does that in any way denigrate those countries - of course not. A Sheik is a Sheik and a Mullah is Mullah and they are not known by any other name and its not derogatory in the least.

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