X-Message-Number: 24650 Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 09:21:37 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: For James Swayze: importance of oil For James Swayze: Perhaps what I've read conflicts with what you've read. However as I understand the situation in Saudi Arabia, a good deal of the oil wealth has spread out to ordinary citizens --- of Saudi Arabia. However Saudis do have lots of foreign Muslim workers too, and resentment from them may play a role. Moreover the enmies of the US don't come from a poor background. Osama bin Laden is himself a Saudi prince (not eligible for the succession, but still a Saudi prince). I would suggest that most of the resentment comes from the realization by many Muslims that advanced countries are doing far better than any Muslim country has ever done, both in prosperity and intellectual advances, and they know very deep and dark in their hearts that most of this prosperity comes precisely because NONE of these advanced countries is a Muslim country or close to one (morally, not physically). We mock their Muslim identity simply by living as prosperously as we do. I could be wrong here, but I think the problem is much deeper than simply oil. Best wishes and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=24650