[Allan from Fallbrook]

gandalf: I have a picture of Reagan and Maggie Thatcher holding hands whilst dividing up the world between them.

It’s suitable for framing. Would probably go well with your den decor.

Let me know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

gandalf: I have a picture of Reagan and Maggie Thatcher holding hands whilst dividing up the world between them.

It’s suitable for framing. Would probably go well with your den decor.

Let me know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

gandalf: I have a picture of Reagan and Maggie Thatcher holding hands whilst dividing up the world between them.

It’s suitable for framing. Would probably go well with your den decor.

Let me know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

gandalf: I have a picture of Reagan and Maggie Thatcher holding hands whilst dividing up the world between them.

It’s suitable for framing. Would probably go well with your den decor.

Let me know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: I guess I would pose a question in return, and that would by why do you believe the geography is critical? And, no, I’m not asking that to set up an ambush; I’m truly just curious.

The geography was critical during WWI in that it gave the British a strategic “back door” into the Ottoman Empire. The Dardanelles (Gallipoli) campaign was a disaster, and T.E. Lawrence’s plan to attack Aqaba was a cheap (in terms of men, money and materiel) alternative.

After WWII, the area became important both due to the oil and the ability to contain the Soviets along their southernmost borders.

I guess my question would be better phrased as: Now that the Cold War is over and presuming that we don’t need the oil anymore, what the hell other reason(s) would we have to be there?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: I guess I would pose a question in return, and that would by why do you believe the geography is critical? And, no, I’m not asking that to set up an ambush; I’m truly just curious.

The geography was critical during WWI in that it gave the British a strategic “back door” into the Ottoman Empire. The Dardanelles (Gallipoli) campaign was a disaster, and T.E. Lawrence’s plan to attack Aqaba was a cheap (in terms of men, money and materiel) alternative.

After WWII, the area became important both due to the oil and the ability to contain the Soviets along their southernmost borders.

I guess my question would be better phrased as: Now that the Cold War is over and presuming that we don’t need the oil anymore, what the hell other reason(s) would we have to be there?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: I guess I would pose a question in return, and that would by why do you believe the geography is critical? And, no, I’m not asking that to set up an ambush; I’m truly just curious.

The geography was critical during WWI in that it gave the British a strategic “back door” into the Ottoman Empire. The Dardanelles (Gallipoli) campaign was a disaster, and T.E. Lawrence’s plan to attack Aqaba was a cheap (in terms of men, money and materiel) alternative.

After WWII, the area became important both due to the oil and the ability to contain the Soviets along their southernmost borders.

I guess my question would be better phrased as: Now that the Cold War is over and presuming that we don’t need the oil anymore, what the hell other reason(s) would we have to be there?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: I guess I would pose a question in return, and that would by why do you believe the geography is critical? And, no, I’m not asking that to set up an ambush; I’m truly just curious.

The geography was critical during WWI in that it gave the British a strategic “back door” into the Ottoman Empire. The Dardanelles (Gallipoli) campaign was a disaster, and T.E. Lawrence’s plan to attack Aqaba was a cheap (in terms of men, money and materiel) alternative.

After WWII, the area became important both due to the oil and the ability to contain the Soviets along their southernmost borders.

I guess my question would be better phrased as: Now that the Cold War is over and presuming that we don’t need the oil anymore, what the hell other reason(s) would we have to be there?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Rus: I guess I would pose a question in return, and that would by why do you believe the geography is critical? And, no, I’m not asking that to set up an ambush; I’m truly just curious.

The geography was critical during WWI in that it gave the British a strategic “back door” into the Ottoman Empire. The Dardanelles (Gallipoli) campaign was a disaster, and T.E. Lawrence’s plan to attack Aqaba was a cheap (in terms of men, money and materiel) alternative.

After WWII, the area became important both due to the oil and the ability to contain the Soviets along their southernmost borders.

I guess my question would be better phrased as: Now that the Cold War is over and presuming that we don’t need the oil anymore, what the hell other reason(s) would we have to be there?

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Ash: You can also download the entire document in .pdf format (it’s 2MB, and about 300+ pgs). The abstract and Executive Summary are both very interesting, as are the comments from the various oil, auto and energy heads and CEOs.

Rus: I think if you look at Saudi Arabia pre-WWI, you’ll have your answer. It obviously had strategic importance starting in WWI, as the British used the Bedouin tribes in an insurgent movement against the Ottoman Turks, and then post-WWII when their oil fueled the postwar expansion and re-industrialization. Take away the billions in petrodollars and you’re not left with much of anything from an industrial or technological standpoint. As far as strategic importance goes, well, the only reason we’ve expended so much blood and treasure is to keep the oil flowing.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Ash: You can also download the entire document in .pdf format (it’s 2MB, and about 300+ pgs). The abstract and Executive Summary are both very interesting, as are the comments from the various oil, auto and energy heads and CEOs.

Rus: I think if you look at Saudi Arabia pre-WWI, you’ll have your answer. It obviously had strategic importance starting in WWI, as the British used the Bedouin tribes in an insurgent movement against the Ottoman Turks, and then post-WWII when their oil fueled the postwar expansion and re-industrialization. Take away the billions in petrodollars and you’re not left with much of anything from an industrial or technological standpoint. As far as strategic importance goes, well, the only reason we’ve expended so much blood and treasure is to keep the oil flowing.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Ash: You can also download the entire document in .pdf format (it’s 2MB, and about 300+ pgs). The abstract and Executive Summary are both very interesting, as are the comments from the various oil, auto and energy heads and CEOs.

Rus: I think if you look at Saudi Arabia pre-WWI, you’ll have your answer. It obviously had strategic importance starting in WWI, as the British used the Bedouin tribes in an insurgent movement against the Ottoman Turks, and then post-WWII when their oil fueled the postwar expansion and re-industrialization. Take away the billions in petrodollars and you’re not left with much of anything from an industrial or technological standpoint. As far as strategic importance goes, well, the only reason we’ve expended so much blood and treasure is to keep the oil flowing.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Ash: You can also download the entire document in .pdf format (it’s 2MB, and about 300+ pgs). The abstract and Executive Summary are both very interesting, as are the comments from the various oil, auto and energy heads and CEOs.

Rus: I think if you look at Saudi Arabia pre-WWI, you’ll have your answer. It obviously had strategic importance starting in WWI, as the British used the Bedouin tribes in an insurgent movement against the Ottoman Turks, and then post-WWII when their oil fueled the postwar expansion and re-industrialization. Take away the billions in petrodollars and you’re not left with much of anything from an industrial or technological standpoint. As far as strategic importance goes, well, the only reason we’ve expended so much blood and treasure is to keep the oil flowing.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Ash: You can also download the entire document in .pdf format (it’s 2MB, and about 300+ pgs). The abstract and Executive Summary are both very interesting, as are the comments from the various oil, auto and energy heads and CEOs.

Rus: I think if you look at Saudi Arabia pre-WWI, you’ll have your answer. It obviously had strategic importance starting in WWI, as the British used the Bedouin tribes in an insurgent movement against the Ottoman Turks, and then post-WWII when their oil fueled the postwar expansion and re-industrialization. Take away the billions in petrodollars and you’re not left with much of anything from an industrial or technological standpoint. As far as strategic importance goes, well, the only reason we’ve expended so much blood and treasure is to keep the oil flowing.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

marion: If by “grandpa” you mean McCain, well, I’m not voting for him, either. I never voted for Dubya (either term), and actually the last Republican I voted for was Dole in ’96.

Regarding Obama, I want to turn the question back on you. Why are you voting for him? I’d be curious as to why you’re voting for him, and would like to hear your thoughts.

[Author]

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