A Crude Friendship: Saudi-American Relations

Background

Since the early 1940's the United States and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed a cordial relationship. Coincidentally enough, in 1936 Saudi Arabia discovered its vast oil resources that now make up 90% of the country’s exports. Over time, these two countries have developed their political alliances on the foundations of their trade relationship. In 2008 the U.S. imported almost $50 billion dollars worth of goods from Saudi Arabia and exported only $10 billion in return. The U.S. could be considered shallow in its way of picking friends who are naturally “endowed”.


Crude Contradictions

At a glance, the facts seem to contradict a possible courtship between the two countries. For one, Saudi Arabia is still condemned for its conservative treatment of women resulting in “gender apartheid.” The country is also accused of cruel punishments involving limb amputations that make lethal injections pale in comparison. Second, 15 of the suicide bombers responsible for the 9/11 attacks turned out to be Saudi Arabian nationalists. If Saudi Arabia lacked its oil resources, the United States would hold a more critical political position against Saudi Arabia. The reoccurring theme persists: the business agenda guides the political agenda. By investing in cleaner alternative energy, the United States could decrease our dependence of foreign oil. This independence would then allow us to press for human rights without the crude contradictions.

The Exploitation of Congolese Minerals

Background:
For months, a rebel group led by General Laurent Nkunda has terrorized civilians of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, causing the displacement of over 250,000 people. Unfortunately, Nkunda was fighting under the false pretext of protecting the Congolese Tutsis who were targeted in the recent Rwandan genocide. For that reason, persecution of the rebel group has been delayed. Yet, after much speculation and investigation the United Nations finally came out with a report on December 12th 2008 detailing the main actors sponsoring the violence.

Business Corruption:

The businessmen of Rwanda personify the soulless businessman image because they are the ones funding the rebels with money to buy the sophisticated weaponry that make them so deadly. These businessmen are interested in the Congo's vast supply of mineral resources. In order to gain a monopoly, the business men require the rebels to negotiate for the removal of foreign actors like China from the Congolese mineral market.


Greed That Kills:

To the Rwandan businessmen, the precious minerals are more valuable than the lives of the civilians. This is just another case of “blood minerals” that has gone unnoticed for too long. The international community has the obligation to step up and stem the problem at its business roots. Countries or businesses that import cobalt or zinc from the Congo should ensure that these minerals are conflict free.

Introduction

Although international affairs seem mostly clouded by politics and power plays, many of the world’s disastrous conflicts emerge from business issues. Unfortunately, those issues are masked by either poor media coverage or direct government obstruction. The 2006 movie, Blood Diamond, exhibits a prime example of business factors affecting foreign affairs. Essentially, profits sold from diamonds mined in Sierra Leone were used to buy weapons that sponsored terrorist and rebel groups that often harmed innocent civilians. Although for a period of time the world became more aware and “conflict diamond” free, many problems still exist under the wrongful exploitation of businesses.


As someone who enjoys keeping up with international conflicts and their causes, I write this blog to inform others about the many ways business issues underline political problems. The causes of conflicts are essential because they determine the best paths for solutions. Issues such as Sierra Leone’s mineral exploitation can be resolved as long as awareness of the business behind the conflict increases. In many cases, the consumers themselves have the power to boycott products and other businesses can decrease interactions with the companies responsible. The point of this blog is to inform people about the business behind international affairs and persuade people to partake in the right action.