Nobody in the Middle East ever refused to sell oil to the west except during the brief embargo during and after the 1973 Arab-Israel war.
***********************
It's about far more than JUST oil. Western interests involve what happens to the OIL MONEY. Primarily our leaders want that money to continue to be recycled back into the European and North American economies through banks, bonds, stocks and real estate investrment. That was really the sore spot I had with Michael Moore's whole premise of the evil motivations behind 9/11 and the Saudi/Bush connections. Why would it be in any way undesirable for Arab oil profits to be HEAVILY invested in our stocks, bonds and private venture funds? I can see how a poor Muslim in the Middle East could be infuriated that all the money disappears into the West but why would Americans object to repatriation of those profits. That's exactly what the Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Merril Lynch and so on and so forth need to keep THIS country growing.
Now consider the alternatives. All that money and influence starts coming in from China and Russia and gets reinvested back into their economies and MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE? See the problem. Control of the oil and oil wealth ultimately dictates the economic and MILITARY potential of the nations involved. You and I may object to this as a justifaction for our sons and daughters to die in a foriegn war and I believe it's clearly unconstitutional for our country to be fighting for such economic objectives. Honestly though I have more faith in the powerful to change the Constitution to their designs than for the people to rise up politically and refuse to support this war. After all, who will give up their Hummers, air conditioning, condo in Boca Raton and trips to Europe just for the ideals of some long dead patriots.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
