Many say that America is "stuck" in the Middle East due to its dependence on oil. Is oil the only reason we're there, and can/how do we get out?
Refer to the following website for more information: http://www.pbs.org/thinktank/transcript978.html
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Well I don't think that oil is the only reason that we're over there, but I definitely think that it's a huge factor. In the article it talked about how in the world there has been other oil reserves found, but we're still "stuck" in the Middle East and I think that is because oil isn't the only reason that we're over there. America is still fighting a war on terror and trying to bring democracy over there even though it doesn't seem to be going very well.
ReplyDeleteOil is a large part in our reason for being in the Middle East. I think that America is covering the reason for the war up by saying its a war on terror when in reality we are being greedy, while forcing our culture on to countries that do not wish us to interfere.
ReplyDeleteI agree with anna on this one. We're in there for oil. other reserves have been found, yes, but theyre insignificant in comparison. I think that our lofty goals of spreading democracy is a driving force for our continued presence, but the sole purpose is oil.
ReplyDeleteI think that oil is a pretty large reason in our current being in the middle east (being stuck, if you will). Well, I think that it is at least a motivation for our origonal going to that region, however I think that we are now stuck there because we have dug ourselves soo deep into their nations, cultures, and politics that just leaving and restorting to another form of energy to replace oil fully is almost unrealistic, for the reprocusions of such an action would be horrific.
ReplyDeleteOil is the one of the largest necesities for people living in the western hemisphere. There is no doubt this is the reason we are stuck there, almost everything we do requires oil in some way. This has embeded our focus on the middle east and what goes on there.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason for our initial interest in the middle east had everything to do with oil. I think we are "stuck" there, however, not because of just oil. We have become entangled in many middle eastern conflicts, we are in Afghanistan and Iraq for example, and now it is difficult for us to just pull and leave these countries unstable. Now we have to consider the people and politics of these countries, in addition to oil.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anna 100%. We might look like the good guys trying to help their countries... when really we are just trying to help ours. Oil is a necessity, and we'll do whatever we can to get it. So it looks like we will be in the middle east for a long time.
ReplyDeleteSure oil is a huge need of ours, but is risking thousands of troops lives too? If the wars are a scam, then that's tons of money, time, effort, and lives given up for nothing. I would think that America would have a little more heart then that, but maybe I could be wrong. If oil is all the we are seeking, then it looks like we are going to be "stuck" in the Middle East for awhile. We need oil, but we also need to fix the messes that we got ourselves into out there
ReplyDeleteAt this point in time, oil is definatley a necessity because we use it for transportation and many industries. I think we will always be "stuck" in the middle east as long we rely so heavily on oil. The real solution to getting out of the middle east is developing alternative energy sources. Maybe instead of using that $6 billion we give to Israel each year in order to ensure a more stable place to get oil, we could use some of it to begin research on alternative energy, and do ourselves a lot of good in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dr. Click.
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