The US is a "wealthy people", and we clean up "our" environment by
polluting other people's (such as Iraq). Why risk leaking our oil all
over the Alaskan tundra when we can let Iraq take the eco-hit, and save
our own? That's the thinking.

That's an interesting way to look at trade. I always thought that the
people who were getting paid were in the driver's seat -- but your theory
seems to put the buyer's in control.

Maybe that was once the case, but I would submit that the current world
energy model does not support your theory. (Although Iraq is not fully
re-integrated into the free market, so their case is a bit different.) It
would appear that the sellers are in command -- and have been for a good
long time -- and we're transferring nothing to them but our wealth.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"