3 ms·

While I like the idea of trying to inspire the (radical?) muslim countries in the middle east to develop out of the oil market, I don't think our $150M--or even

While I like the idea of trying to inspire the (radical?) muslim countries in the middle east to develop out of the oil market, I don't think our $150M--or even $1.5B--will change anything. The leaders in the middle east need to make these investments with their endless piles of cash.... and historically they haven't (Dubai for finance being a notable exception). The truth is we should be disengaging from these countries on a business level by putting massive investment into solar, wind and nuclear. The investments in our recent wars in the region could have easily made us energy independent by now..... if Bush or Obama were true leaders they would have focused our resources on the goal of energy independence.

gwern 17y ago
> The leaders in the middle east need to make these investments with their endless piles of cash.... and historically they haven't (Dubai for finance being a notable exception). Dubai's lustre is fading though - have you been reading the articles on how they've been hit by the last 2 years, may yet default on the national debt & have been bailed out but are frantically searching for further capital? I always was a little skeptical of their absurd building projects, but I assumed there must be enough real value there to keep things afloat; I may yet be proven wrong.
jacquesm 17y ago
Excellent points, but there will be an ROI on that money. America has a big image problem abroad, Obama is a big difference from Bush but it will need more than a 'pretty face' to change attitudes. And the fact that this gesture gets broad play in the targeted countries means it is already paying off. For the price of less than one day of war in Iraq (255 M or so ?) it seems to be pretty cheap. The independence of oil for energy can't come soon enough.
mh_ 17y ago
Is pretty awesome how "muslim countries" has to be pre-fixed with the word radical.

gwern 17y ago

> The leaders in the middle east need to make these investments with their endless piles of cash.... and historically they haven't (Dubai for finance being a notable exception). Dubai's lustre is fading though - have you been reading the articles on how they've been hit by the last 2 years, may yet default on the national debt & have been bailed out but are frantically searching for further capital? I always was a little skeptical of their absurd building projects, but I assumed there must be enough real value there to keep things afloat; I may yet be proven wrong.

jacquesm 17y ago

Excellent points, but there will be an ROI on that money. America has a big image problem abroad, Obama is a big difference from Bush but it will need more than a 'pretty face' to change attitudes. And the fact that this gesture gets broad play in the targeted countries means it is already paying off. For the price of less than one day of war in Iraq (255 M or so ?) it seems to be pretty cheap. The independence of oil for energy can't come soon enough.

mh_ 17y ago

Is pretty awesome how "muslim countries" has to be pre-fixed with the word radical.