Mitch,
Most of the burgeoning terrorist you think exist in these countries see the huge money as a source for many of the problems that they are fighting against. Money moves you away from the true form of Islam. To lead a simple life and be generous. It has been said a million times: money is the root of all evil. This is very true in that part of the world...at least from the view of the extremist. Also, look at the UAE, they are planning for their future through tourism and business and are really becoming the "capital" of the whole of the region. They are a diamond in the rough..and it is working. (I do not agree with some of their behind the scenes dealings)
As for alternative energy...it has been available for years...it just has not been embraced by our society. We cannot go back and undo what we have done, but we can certainly move forward. No one is saying that we should have a hybrid in everyones hands by Christmas...but we should start putting some American ingenuity to work and solve this problem for the long term. We CAN and WILL do it.
We should have thought ahead...but we did not. When did we start taxiing on just one engine? When did we quit starting the APU at FL180? When did we start driving the speed limit? When did we sell our gas guzzling cars for something more efficient? When did we push the temp up one or two degrees on our thermostat? My opinion is that efficiency starts with the individual..and will find its way up. People are not buying SUV's...so GM is making more efficient cars. (Japan has done it for decades..it knows it has limited resources). Use your cash to speak for you..only then will change happen.
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