Untapped Powerhouse

Fatin Bundagji’s article, “Saudi Women: Untapped Economic Powerhouse” (May 2) was most informative. Dealing with young Saudi women on a daily basis, one can only agree with everything she has said. However, what is the actual problem? Is it the lack of job opportunities or societal attitudes that are hindering these young ladies from achieving their full potential?

One of the things that seem to come across rather blatantly is the number of doors to different professions that are closed to them.

Many ladies are where they are because they couldn’t do what they really wanted. So rather than getting into an uncomfortable job at the end of a discipline or training, perhaps they would rather stay at home. There also seems to be a lack of orientation in the programs they are offered. Perhaps an all-rounded whole college approach would help.

Ozma Siddiqui, Riyadh published 7 May 2008

Oil Price

This is regarding the report, “Oil Price May Go Up to $250, Warn Experts” (May 2). But your theory as to why the price of oil collapsed in the 1980s has no basis in fact whatsoever.

Here is what actually occurred:

In the early 1980s there was a concerted effort in the US to develop alternative forms of energy to counter the ever-increasing price of oil. Does this sound familiar? Those alternative energy programs involved solar, geothermal, wind, shale oil, coal, hydro, even nuclear power. We actually flew an F-16 on fuel derived from oil shale rock in 1980 at Hill AFB in Utah.

It was in the early 1980s while I was working and living in Riyadh that Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Sheikh Zaki Yamani made his memorable speech to the OPEC that signified the death knell for alternative energy in the US. In his speech Yamani said that the price of oil was too high and that the West was being driven toward alternative energy and away from its reliance on oil, and if that should occur it would be the end of OPEC as they knew it. Yamani went on to say that what was needed was a price that would keep the West relying on oil, provide a fair and sustainable return to OPEC, and make alternative energy uneconomical.

None of the other oil ministers in OPEC agreed. Within months Saudi Arabia increased its oil production from 2 million bpd to 10 million bpd. The result was a precipitous drop in the price of oil from $34 per barrel to $12 per barrel, the shutdown of almost every alternative energy program in the US, the capping of marginally productive wells, and the termination of most oil exploration in the US. No US energy venture could be made profitable against a figure of $12 per barrel for imported oil.

Additionally, the other members of OPEC upped their daily production to make up for the lower cost per barrel that further flooded the market.

All of the above is why the price of oil fell in the 1980s, it had absolutely nothing to do with a “drop in demand and your dreamed up 10X price theory”, and everything to do with the West’s drive to develop alternative energy.

Gene Cirillo, United States published 7 May 2008

Oil Price [2]

$250 a barrel is within range and faster than predicted if supplies are reduced or even suggested that they are going to be reduced. Why would I pump one million barrels a day if I only had to pump 500,000 and get the same return or more?

America is going to have to wake to the fact that China and India are not complaining but are locking up supplies by investing in areas nobody else will venture into. Their only request by investing is that they are able to have first right of refusal on product found and any partner is going to accept this requirement as they are not seeking a discount, only first shot at purchasing.

America wants cheap gas but has not built or allowed to be built any new refineries in over 30 years.

Threats to bring in a windfall tax against big oil will only make big oil sell their production overseas through another company.

It is time for some lateral thinking leaders to take charge of this great country and the three available are not going to be any different. America needs a general manager to run the show as a business. The free trade agreement between Mexico, US, Canada is a great idea for Mexico, OK for Canada and lousy for the US.

America needs to get their dollar back to its high position and to do this the people are going to have to go back to work and produce something. Make the farmers who get paid to grow nothing show that they are able to grow, make them produce the corn for the ethanol and get the other corn back into the food chain where it belongs. Learn how to sew and produce your own flags with “Made in America” rather than the “Made in China” tags. Yes, we have allowed things to get to this stage, shame on us; we will pay for our ways unless we wake up.

Don’t cry at six-dollar gas; the rest of the world has been paying it for years.

MR, United States published 7 May 2008

Oil Price [2]

$250 a barrel is within range and faster than predicted if supplies are reduced or even suggested that they are going to be reduced. Why would I pump one million barrels a day if I only had to pump 500,000 and get the same return or more?

America is going to have to wake to the fact that China and India are not complaining but are locking up supplies by investing in areas nobody else will venture into. Their only request by investing is that they are able to have first right of refusal on product found and any partner is going to accept this requirement as they are not seeking a discount, only first shot at purchasing.

America wants cheap gas but has not built or allowed to be built any new refineries in over 30 years.

Threats to bring in a windfall tax against big oil will only make big oil sell their production overseas through another company.

It is time for some lateral thinking leaders to take charge of this great country and the three available are not going to be any different. America needs a general manager to run the show as a business. The free trade agreement between Mexico, US, Canada is a great idea for Mexico, OK for Canada and lousy for the US.

America needs to get their dollar back to its high position and to do this the people are going to have to go back to work and produce something. Make the farmers who get paid to grow nothing show that they are able to grow, make them produce the corn for the ethanol and get the other corn back into the food chain where it belongs. Learn how to sew and produce your own flags with “Made in America” rather than the “Made in China” tags. Yes, we have allowed things to get to this stage, shame on us; we will pay for our ways unless we wake up.

Don’t cry at six-dollar gas; the rest of the world has been paying it for years.

MR, United States published 7 May 2008

Distortion of Truth

This is regarding your editorial, “Distortion of Truth” (May 3). I am afraid you express opinions without providing specifics.

If fellow Arabs are truly concerned about the plight of Gaza residents, where is the condemnation of Egypt for erecting its own wall on their border with Gaza? I saw plenty when Israel erected their wall. I heard not a peep when Egypt did the same. Seems like a double standard.

Michael Ashe, United States published 7 May 2008

Distortion of Truth [2]

Your editorial very clearly analyzes the ground realities. Any impartial political observer of the game that the US is playing will see that they are furthering their interests and not of the parties concerned. It is high time Arab countries came out of the embrace of the US and formed a front along with Asian countries such as India and China. Then they can dictate terms instead of the US dictating terms to them. After all it is the right of every sovereign country to act in accordance with its own interest.

Padmanabhan Iyer, Dammam published 7 May 2008

Distortion of Truth [3]

Arab countries must establish a joint peacekeeping force to monitor what is happening in Palestine (Gaza, West Bank and of course in Jerusalem) and report to the UN. Israel and US are blaming the Palestinians for things any people under occupation will do to protect their rights. Whenever there is a debate in the UN and Israel is blamed, all the Western diplomats leave in protest. This way there will never be any talks or negotiations or peace.

There should be a NATO-like peace force to protect the Arab/Muslim countries, rather than allow the NATO to invade the Muslim countries.

We must show the world how Muslims are united and can guard their own territories.

Abdulaziz, Riyadh published 7 May 2008

Against Commission

This refers to Tariq Al-Maeena’s column, “It’s Not Just the Western Media” (May 3). By the standards of the Western world, even the concept of a “Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice” is the stuff of science fiction and Kafkaesque nightmare. Only when a society is structured in such a way that it is a given that the majority of the population will recognize the inherent value in complying with societal norms, without the need for someone to enforce such behavior, will you have a society worthy of supporting. Fortunately, in Canada, we enjoy just such a society.

Elizabeth Elliott, Canada published 7 May 2008

Against Commission [2]

It is really sad and amazing how biased you are against the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The more you print such articles the more you appear to be lying. This is just a rule of thumb when it comes to the media, especially, when you never say anything good about what the commission is doing.

Muhammad Okedeyi, Jeddah published 7 May 2008

Against Commission [3]

I commend you for your excellent reporting of the commission’s continued violation of human rights of citizens as well as expats.

I also urge you to highlight these incidents in Arabic publications for the Saudi public to read and disseminate the information in order to put pressure on the commission to follow more decent methods of dealing with the public.

Aziz Bander, Jeddah published 7 May 2008

Against Commission [4]

This article only shows Tariq Al-Maeena’s ignorance of Islamic teachings. He should know how much the West despises Islam and tries to malign Shariah. People like him are feeding them well. Mistakes by a few individuals never make the rules.

Abdul Hameed M.H., Riyadh published 7 May 2008