Our Friends the Saudis...

Outstanding piece by Doug Bandow, senior fellow at the Cato Institute. This also appeared in the December 2, 2002 National Review. The thesis explored is to be realistic with the nature of the oil weapon that the Saudis wield. As in, we don't need their oil as a matter of national survival. Further, there are sufficient alternatives we can tap, especially after we restore Iraq to the family of respectable nations. This sense of freedom from the oil weapon should allow us to deal with the Saudis in a way to end their tacit and generous financial support of terrorism.

One not-so-small point of disagreement with Mr. Bandow. He states that Washington need not treat the Saudis as enemies. I would humbly suggest that is exactly what is proposed; let us not shrink from calling the Saudis what they are: enemies of the West; slicky boys in desert robes, selling what God gave them as if they made it themselves.