SUV's

Andrew Sullivan.com is going OJ on SUV's today. The general crux of the aruement is SUV's use more gas and therefore they directly help in the funding of roque nations such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Andrews site is even having a contest for the best anti-suv bumper sticker. Is this an accurate assesment?

I think not. There is no doubt that America is a gas loving and consuming nation. We consume enough energy for many nations. If we were to begin monitoring and conserving oil then we could start to untangle our country from these bad regimes. On its face it sounds good, but it is a little naive.

Asia is consuming energy at enormous rates and there consumption will surpass ours in the near future. Their demand for energy can be seen in China's willingness to pay more than market value for an American energy company. The market for oil goes way beyond SUV's and America.

America divorcing themselves from less than friendly oil nations would do nothing to solve any problems going on in the Middle East. To be sure the countries would feel a slight hit if we stopped purchasing their product but there are plenty of addicts to make sure they have large bank accounts. Am I supposed to believe that without US dollars the region is magically going to become a peaceful region? Maybe if we quit purchasing their oil they will begin to direct their anger at Asia?

The most likely scenario for the Middle East with out American engagement is a worsening of human rights violations (if possible)and a further disconnect from the rest of the world. Picture Africa, no oil nobody(no Americans) cares what happens in the Sudan or Liberia or anywhere in Sub-Sahharan Africa. This would truly be a tragic event.

Oil is the only connection the Middle East has with the rest of the world if they did not have this connection then we could grant these compassionate anti-war protestors their wish and allow the Middle East to terrorize their public without so much as a 1 minute headline sandwiched in between a celbrity break-up and missing person story.