The figures back him up. According to the Department of Energy, "from 2003
through 2006, Saudi Arabia exported about $95 billion in crude oil to the
United States, as its average price doubled from $25 to $56 a barrel."
During his visit last month to the Middle East, President Bush obtained more
promises from several leaders of Arab states to do more. We'll see if those
pledges have any more currency than previous unfulfilled promises.
The under-responsiveness has not just been in the Arab world. Money and
other forms of assistance have been lacking from countries that are also
threatened by Islamic extremists. Spain seems to have come closest to
fulfilling its pledge. The GAO says of the $248 million Spain promised, it
has paid $213.7 million so far. And Japan, according to a recent report to
Congress, has pledged and disbursed more assistance to Iraq than any other
individual country except the United States.
At a minimum, we should send Iraq and Afghanistan a bill for what we have
done and are trying to do for them, or ask for price cuts on Iraqi oil.
Thousands of American lives have been lost and the financial cost is
enormous, as we seek to advance freedom for others. While a freer world is
also in America's interests, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan stand to
benefit the most. To have these and other nations in the region receive what
amounts to welfare while charging us top dollar for oil - and using some of
those profits to underwrite radical Islamic extremism - is doubly offensive.