Bush Bends Knee To Saudi Arabia

Once again the US President George W. Bush went cap in hand to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, pleading that he boost oil production to offset the high demand and spiralling prices.

Having been unsuccessful in January, when he last begged the king for more, Bush presumably was hoping that this time the king would be more receptive, especially as oil is reaching record highs, hovering at around $128 a barrel.

Bush, still not having mastered the art of diplomacy despite his years in the White House, candidly reminded King Abdullah of the consequences to both US and Saudi economies unless there was an increase in oil production.

With the Democrats in the US calling for a freeze on the supply of arms to Saudi Arabia - something the king would be very aware of, despite it not being official policy - it doubtless helped "persuade" the Saudi leader to go some way to meeting Bush's demands.

But only some way - 300,000 barrels a day - which Bush acknowledged would make no difference to the market.

Instead, Bush directed his fire at the Democrats and conservationists who do not want oil exploration in Alaska, or further development of nuclear fuel. Bush suggested that more investment be made into developing alternative energies to meet increasing demand.

Oil production in Alaska is recognised as possibly spoiling one of the few pristine areas on Earth; nuclear energy is disliked because of the problems in disposing of nuclear waste; alternative sources of fuel have, to date, mainly involved using valuable crops that would otherwise be directed towards the starving in Third World countries, who even now are suffering because of this development.

Better by far is for governments to encourage less use of a product which is not inexhaustible. A five per cent in oil consumption by everyone would reduce prices and conserve resources.