[layman]

I believe that a major thrust of U.S. policy regarding ALL Mideastern countries should be the 'fast track' development of the production and distribution of hydrogen energy. In view of the high price of oil and the certainty of the situation persisting, I'm disappointed and surprised that the private sector has not reacted to this opportunity. This relates to foreign policy because the terrorists are being financed in large part by our reliance on foreign oil. The investment required would be minimal compared to the cost of the military effort required to attempt to bring stability to the Mideastern hellhole.

[humint]

"I believe that a major thrust of U.S. policy regarding ALL Mideastern countries should be the 'fast track' development of the production and distribution of hydrogen energy."

Interesting point... energy may play a big role in our problems in the ME but it is not the only problem. Besides, if we Americans seriously started the transition toward an H2 economy today we might get there in 50-100 years. Asia, Africa and Europe would have to be in lock step with us or the idea is virtually pointless. That's why we didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol...

Have you studied the H2 scenario?

[logic]

A policy decision to offer large tax breaks for the production of vegetable oil producing crops and operations to process vegetable oil into bio-diesel would be an immediate, viable, short term solution to a large part of the mid-east oil dependance problem.

If we were giving taxc breaks to farmers to produce those crops instead of paying them to not produce anything, we could get the cost of vegetable oil down to at least as low as petrolium oil...