was this the plan all along?

I think the Saudi's may be the one with the "plan"... they have the most to lose if the USA wakes up and gets behind synthetic fuels

John Kerry to Address America’s Dangerous Dependence on Saudi Oil

Administration’s energy policy works for Saudis, big oil but not the American people.

Washington - Senator John Kerry will speak on the Senate floor today at approximately 3:00 p.m. on America’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
Below is a statement from Senator Kerry on this issue:

“President Bush’s meeting today with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah is a stark reminder of our country’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and how much that dependence threatens our national security.

“America is growing more – not less – dependant on foreign oil, and our dependence on foreign oil is shortchanging our goals in the war on terror. Even if oil miraculously drops to $30 a barrel, over the next 25 years the U.S. will send over 3 trillion American dollars out of the country, much of it to regimes that don’t share our values. In the past Hamas received almost half of its funding from Saudi Arabia. We know al Qaeda has relied on prominent Saudis for financing. And Saudi Arabia sponsors clerics who promote the ideology of terror.

“We can no longer allow America’s dependence on foreign oil to compromise our energy security. Instead, we must invest in inventing new ways to power our cars and our economy. I’ll put my faith in American science and ingenuity any day before I depend on Saudi Arabia.

“The administration’s energy policy works for Saudi Arabia, it works for big oil and gas companies, but it doesn’t work for the American people. The president’s energy bill, by his own admission, does nothing to lower gas prices; will increase oil imports by 85% by 2025; and 95% of the tax benefits in the package – over $8 billion – go directly into the pockets of big oil and gas companies.

“Jawboning OPEC nations to increase production is short-term solution to a long-running problem. We need to invest in America’s energy future – not Saudi Arabia’s – and the only way to do that is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

# # #

Bush pretends that begging the Saudis is an energy policy.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz said: "If oil prices continue to climb, so does the hatred towards Saudi Arabia. To put it bluntly, the American public feels, 'If they are allies, why are they charging so much for oil? If they are allies, why are their people trying to kill us?"

From the Australian above:
Necessity is the mother of invention.  There are a lot of smart people in the US.  These smart people need to be encouraged by our government and others to build alternate energy infrastructure on a big scale.  The necessity is there.

Too many wars have been fought over oil already.  I think things would have been different if Kerry had been elected.  There would still be problems but maybe we wouldn't have daily death reports.

Necessity is the mother of invention.  There are a lot of smart people in the US.  These smart people need to be encouraged by our government and others to build alternate energy infrastructure on a big scale.  The necessity is there.

Too many wars have been fought over oil already.  I think things would have been different if Kerry had been elected. 

04/25/2005
John Kerry to Address America’s Dangerous Dependence on Saudi Oil

Administration’s energy policy works for Saudis, big oil but not the American people.

Washington - Senator John Kerry will speak on the Senate floor today at approximately 3:00 p.m. on America’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

Below is a statement from Senator Kerry on this issue:

“President Bush’s meeting today with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah is a stark reminder of our country’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and how much that dependence threatens our national security.

“America is growing more – not less – dependant on foreign oil, and our dependence on foreign oil is shortchanging our goals in the war on terror. Even if oil miraculously drops to $30 a barrel, over the next 25 years the U.S. will send over 3 trillion American dollars out of the country, much of it to regimes that don’t share our values. In the past Hamas received almost half of its funding from Saudi Arabia. We know al Qaeda has relied on prominent Saudis for financing. And Saudi Arabia sponsors clerics who promote the ideology of terror.

“We can no longer allow America’s dependence on foreign oil to compromise our energy security. Instead, we must invest in inventing new ways to power our cars and our economy. I’ll put my faith in American science and ingenuity any day before I depend on Saudi Arabia.

“The administration’s energy policy works for Saudi Arabia, it works for big oil and gas companies, but it doesn’t work for the American people. The president’s energy bill, by his own admission, does nothing to lower gas prices; will increase oil imports by 85% by 2025; and 95% of the tax benefits in the package – over $8 billion – go directly into the pockets of big oil and gas companies.

“Jawboning OPEC nations to increase production is short-term solution to a long-running problem. We need to invest in America’s energy future – not Saudi Arabia’s – and the only way to do that is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Comparing U.S. dependence on overseas oil to a "foreign tax on the American people," President Bush on Wednesday proposed a series of energy initiatives, including more oil refineries and nuclear plants, to combat the problem.

In a speech to a Small Business Administration conference in Washington, Bush announced five proposals focusing on technology to ensure affordable and reliable supplies of energy.

His second energy speech in a week comes as gas prices soar ahead of the summer driving season.

"Technology is allowing us to better use our existing energy resources," Bush said. "And in the years ahead, technology will allow us to create entirely new sources of energy in ways earlier generations could never dream."

He said the United States must develop policies to make it less dependent on oil and other fossil fuels but stressed that he could not just lower soaring gas prices.

"Our dependence on foreign energy is like a foreign tax on the American people. It is a tax our citizens pay every day in higher gasoline prices and higher costs to heat and cool their homes. It's a tax on jobs and a tax that is increasing every year," Bush said.

"The problem is clear; the problem did not develop overnight. It is not going to be fixed overnight."

The president discussed a plan to encourage building oil refineries on former military sites. Administration officials said Bush will ask federal agencies to work with states and local communities to try to identify ways for refinery expansion.

He also called on the Department of Energy to work with Congress to reduce uncertainty in the licensing process of nuclear power plants.

"A secure energy future for America must include more nuclear power," Bush said.

The Bush administration said that despite a newer licensing process at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, experiences in the 1970s and 1980s have left uncertainty among potential investors about their ability to negotiate the new system.

The president proposed "risk insurance" to mitigate the cost of possible delays in the licensing of new reactors.

Administration officials said they were not prepared yet to discuss how much that insurance might cost.

Other items on the Bush agenda included a call to Congress to grant federal authority (via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) over the location of new liquefied natural gas terminals in an effort to increase the supply of natural gas and reduce prices.

Additionally, the president called for expanding his existing tax credit proposal, which currently applies to hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles, to include those using new clean diesel technology.

Bush also touched on expanded international cooperation in cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.

The House of Representatives recently passed an energy bill, but the Senate has yet to do so. Bush urged the Senate to pass energy legislation and to have a bill on his desk before the August recess.

CNN's Catherine Berger and Elaine Quijano contributed to this report.

He also called on the Department of Energy to work with Congress to reduce uncertainty in the licensing process of nuclear power plants.

"A secure energy future for America must include more nuclear power," Bush said.

"Our dependence on foreign energy is like a foreign tax on the American people. It is a tax our citizens pay every day in higher gasoline prices and higher costs to heat and cool their homes. It's a tax on jobs and a tax that is increasing every year," Bush said.