tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262998394127128.post3086272826362581423..comments2023-02-13T00:54:07.368-08:00Comments on Policy From Principle: International: When Syria comes to dinnerJeff Colganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12761576676123046852noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262998394127128.post-56683864846419121472007-11-29T19:33:00.000-08:002007-11-29T19:33:00.000-08:00Thanks for sharing, Jeff, I think record prices...Thanks for sharing, Jeff,<BR/> I think record prices for oil and coal are fundamentally changing the power structures of world politics. There are opportunities when a state recognizes that oil's production future has constraints, and I hope some side payments can be the provision of energy efficient technologies and renewables that are developed in the US - so when we are progressing toward near-term conflict resolution, we are also addressing potential sources of long-term conflicts such as zero-sum scarcity of energy resources (while also moving forward on climate change mitigation). Two major related meetings this coming week are the Bali post-Kyoto negotiations and the Dec 5 OPEC mtg. It will be interesting to see if OPEC can or will raise their production further this winter to prevent us from passing $100/barrel oil...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262998394127128.post-28633469186035618092007-11-27T20:27:00.000-08:002007-11-27T20:27:00.000-08:00Interesting thoughts, Jeff. Hadn't actually consi...Interesting thoughts, Jeff. Hadn't actually considered the bit about their oil money running out, but that's interesting.<BR/><BR/>There was actually an article in either the Washington Post or the New York Times (can't remember which) earlier this week suggesting that Syria's attendance was intended to create a little space between Lebanon and the U.S. Anti-Syrian Lebanese officials are/were apparently concerned that Syria would agree to some sort of progress in relations with Israel and, as a result, the U.S. would ease the pressure on Syria with regard to Damascus interfering in Lebanese politics. That seems unlikely to me--at least I'd like to think it's unlikely that the US could be so easily convinced to abandon Lebanon. However, especially when you consider the administration's recent obsession with Iran, Bush and co. might see anything that drives Syria and Iran apart--even just slightly--as being worth the sacrifice.<BR/><BR/>Anyway--good stuff on here. Keep it up.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10055902056935213194noreply@blogger.com