TomPaine.Com: Why London? Why Now? OPEC Peak Oil Gone by 2015

[AuntiBush]

Why London? Why Now?

From Tom Paine (dot) com's website. My apologies if this is a report. Looked 'round and did not see it anywhere and wasn't sure where to post it either. This may explain a few things for us with regards to today's London bombings.

"For the moment, I am assuming this was the work of Al Qaeda. If that is the case, the timing of the attack is significant. The G8 Summit has, as its primary focus, two issues that could strike at the heart of Islamic extremism by draining the swamp: climate change and poverty.

Addressing climate change requires radically improving transportation fuel efficiency and transitioning off fossil fuels as a source of energy. To the extent that the United States and the rest of the world adopts sensible climate change policies, the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf diminishes and America has more room to promote real democratic and economic reform in the region. Al Qaeda's strategy, however, requires American dependence on Persian Gulf energy, to ensure that America continues to wage war to protect its energy supply.

To show just how dire our global energy situation is, Saudi Arabia <http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e0cdc282-ee47-11d9-98e5-00000e2511c8.html> announced today that OPEC will not be able to meet Western demand for oil by 2015, only 10 years out. Given the timing, this is Saudi Arabia effectively saying that the time has come to turn toward more efficient use of oil, which is also one of the main ways of dealing with climate change. Saudi Arabia just undercut the Bush administration's position in Gleneagles. That should have been a major blow to the United States, but it will now be swept away by the bombings."

Read More...
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050707/why_london_why_now.php

Edited: Long day of typos. Sorry.

[BayouBengal07]

1. It is an interesting question, isn't it.

I mean, after 9/11 people were like "I can't believe it could happen here."

Well I was just that way about London- I couldn't imagine an attack on Britain, at least it never really crossed my mind.

[AuntiBush]

3. The Problem is there is "too much" to cross over our minds these days

Never thought so much, daily... is it any wonder our Dems can't keep track, much less us. Head is spinning daily.

[AuntiBush]

2. It Continues...

"But the decisions on what would come out of Gleneagles were made well before the summit meeting. Changing those decisions would be diplomatically quite difficult. Odds are that the terrorists knew this. Therefore the attacks are about changing the direction of the momentum, about destroying the narrative of progress and hope that the G8 Summit has produced. The terrorists want to stop the climate change and poverty focus of the international community and bring it back to terrorism. Ultimately, Al Qaeda wants to keep the West distracted from advancing the policies that will deal a heavy blow to Islamic extremism.

Unfortunately, with Bush still resisting any progress on climate change, that job was not going to be too difficult. Sadly, with American neocons still chomping at the bit to attack Iran and Syria, Al Qaeda will find willing accomplices for their fearmongering in the think tanks of the right. How neocons will spin this into calls for military strikes on Iran and Syria is yet to be seen. But call they will."

Looking Forward

"So now it is time for progressives to keep the focus on draining the swamp, not on counterproductive military adventures that will only reinforce Al Qaeda propaganda. Aggressive and innovative policies to address climate change and poverty are two of the most powerful ways accomplish this. So is a smart exit strategy from Iraq and a final settlement between Israelis and Palestinians."

And More from Tom Paine Web Site:
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050707/why_london_why_now.php

Not Pretty... does it get any grimmer then this? I should ask.

[Redstone]

4. Uh, no. Just no. That's just ASTONISHINGLY fucking stupid.

Al-Qaeda setting off bombs in London because they're worried about us using less oil?

That may be the single most extraordinarily idiotic thing I've read today.

And that's saying something, considering some of the dumb ideas that have been posted here (and other places) today.

Redstone

[AuntiBush]

6. Are you calling "Tom Paine" stupid?

It's from his site. Did you check out his link and the other link to the Saudi site, as well?

And thank you for your kindness, fellow DU'er.

[Redstone]

12. I'm call the THEORY stupid. Which it is.

I've been to that site, and seen some decent writing. But this theory is stupid.

My kindness as a fellow DUer (which is actually pretty well-known) doesn't mean that I'll listen to idiotic raving without commenting on it.

Redstone

[serryjw]

5. If Saudi Arabia is ADMITTING to 2015

you can assume it is far worse,probably closer to 2010 like we all predicted.

[wallwriter]

7. Or something a little more right-now-ish

[AuntiBush]

9. Common Dreams & Tom Paine Wrote of this.

Suppose I'll follow other DU'ers and not post anymore. To be called "F'ing stupid" by a fellow DU member in public, and on a day like today... now that's past F'ing stupid, cruel, and un-called for.

[rman]

16. He did not write the FT.com article

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e0cdc282-ee47-11d9-98e5-00000e2511c8.html

"Saudi Arabia calculates there is a 4.5m b/d gap between what the world needs and what the kingdom can provide."

[AuntiBush]

8. That might be what all the panics about. Just a thought.

Sincerely... found that article at TomPaine.com. Common Dreams has his link and story on the their site, as well.

Common Dreams "Tom Paine" article (same as above):
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0707-31.htm

Shew... some posters here should practice a bit more common courteous towards their fellow DU'ers. Several have emailed me noting they no longer post here anymore because of this very reason. That's rather sad.

[serryjw]

10. Why are you upset with me?

n/t

[AuntiBush]

14. Sorry, Serryjw... hit the wrong Reply Post button

Did not mean that... sorry.

[drduffy]

11. No, no no....

keep posting. Just because some are discourteous doesn't mean that others of us don't value your opinions and references to very germane articles. I can see a number of reasons why the middle east radicals would like the US to continue to f-up in the middle east. Heaven forbid that BushCo. could actually do something productive and decent with respect to the middle east.

the radical islamists need us as a foil if they are to increase their power in the middle east. Without the US screwing around and up, the islamists are nothing.

[AuntiBush]

13. Thank you. I appreciate it.

I mean that. Thanks for taking the time.

[rman]

15. SA calculates there *IS* a 4.5m b/d gap between what the world needs...

"Saudi Arabia calculates there is a 4.5m b/d gap between what the world needs and what the kingdom can provide."
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e0cdc282-ee47-11d9-98e5-00000e2511c8.html

It's not even between the lines, it is right there; they admit they have a problem NOW.

[mod mom]

17. Very disturbing information! nt