Defining Motivation
Reader comment on item: Does Israel Need a Plan?

Submitted by E. J. Blumberg (United States), Feb 2, 2003 at 22:25

Dear Dr. Pipes,

This is an excellent article and clearly outlines the basic motives of the Palestinians. What isn't clear however, is the vacillation, "always give the benefit of doubt to the Palestinians" and the assumption of "Moral equivalency" by the U. S. Department of State. What lies behind this moral fog is the dependency of the U. S. economy on Petroleum supplied by the Arab states. Much as I dislike the the Dept. of State, I can understand that the economic consequences of an arab boycott of petroleum products to the U. S. are a prospect they are unwilling to accept. Therefore they avoid realistic dealings with these monsters and are not willing to cross them publically or privately. Not only does this give the oil producing states a veto over U.S. foreign policy but permits them to pursue their anti-Israel ...goals with funds provided by petroleum sales.

The only solution I can see is the end of middle eastern petroleum dependency by the U. S. This requires a multi-faceted program opposed by many economic and environmental interests. Increased drilling wherever oil can be found, significant reductions in the size and weight of automobiles, modifying efficiency reducing environmental requirements, requiring most freight shipments to be "piggy backed" on railroad flat cars and greatly increased production of nuclear electrical power.

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