Response to Sultan

Submitted by Bruce Josloff (United States), Nov 12, 2005 at 13:26

"You must understand that billions of people on the earth today (not only muslims) are frustrated by USA s politics."

The degree of anger and frustration directed at the United States is generally a yardstick of the birth pangs experienced by developing countries as they embrace the difficult path of "globalization." Since the United States is perceived as the originator of hi-technology consumerables and global electronic investment banking and free trade policies, it is naturally the target of those societies which experience the tumult of change.

On the other hand, because of the military might and reach of the United States, it is the only credible guarantor of "Freedom of the Seas" and "Freedom of the Skies." Its treasury is the primary contributor to the coffers of the United Nations (upwards of 60%) and its pharmaceutical companies (i.e. Merck), are the only entities with the capacity for large scale distribution of needed medicines and vaccines to third world nations.

As for the so-called Arab world, with the aid of technologies developed by American, Indian, and European engineers and scientists, it costs the Arabs $3 to $4 dollars to extract a barrel of oil from the sand. They then turn around and charge the United States and the other world oil consumers 60 dollars a barrel. They then shunt several dollars a barrel over to the Imams and clerics who inspire Arab youth to attack Western civilians and Western institutions. Of course, in the propaganda of the Arab world, it is the United States that is the great exploiter (Satan) and not the princes and monarchs who have set up a system of "No taxation and No representation." Who needs taxation when your kingdoms sit on top of 2/3 of the world's oil resources. That the United States Navy guarantees safe passage of oil shipments out of the Arabian Gulf is a blessing for the 1/2 of the planet that depends upon that oil to fuel its transportation and industrial base.

Within the next 25 years the Chinese (Sinic) and Indian (Hindu) civilizations will assert their global primacy in both commerce, investment and exploitation of the world's resources. In the case of China's developement, its military expenditures alone exceed 20% of GDP per year. The vital interests of these great powers will not necessarily be any more or less"negotiable" then that of the United States.

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