Courier Post

 http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080426/OPINION/804260312/1047/opinion01

When George W. Bush was running for president in 2000, he told us that, if there was ever another gas shortage that resulted in escalating prices, he would use his connections with friendly Arab oil exporters to "open up the spigot." He thought he could use the political capital his father earned by liberating Kuwait in 1991. 

Allowing the Saudis in the United States to fly out of the country without being interrogated after 9/11, while all commercial aviation was grounded, didn't seem to earn President Bush any Brownie points with the world's No. 1 oil producer. In 2000, oil was selling for $35 a barrel and gasoline sold for $1.66 a gallon, compared to the recent $117 a barrel for oil and nearly $3.50 a gallon for gas. 

If anything, Bush's pre-emptive invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, the world's second-largest oil producer, have offended Arab members of OPEC and contributed to the rise in oil prices. 

So, Bush, who was going to conduct a humble foreign policy and avoid nation building, has done exactly the opposite with extremely negative results in the United States. His policy has caused ripple effects throughout the Middle East and Europe. It's too bad Bush was distracted from the real agenda, hunting down Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. His irresponsible invasion of Iraq allowed bin Laden to escape and continue his worldwide jihad against us and our allies. 

Nick Reina,