# Oil:  Downfall of the Middle East

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-downfall-of-the-middle-east/149970>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 21, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-downfall-of-the-middle-east/149970 "2003-01-21T13:38:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-downfall-of-the-middle-east/149970/1 "2003-01-21T13:38:50Z")

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In another thread ( [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157716](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157716) ) we had discussed alternatives to using crude oil for its many functions. Assuming people were willing to bear the greater cost of alternatives, or perhaps lets assume we begin to run out of crude, what would happen to the people of the Middle East where much of today’s crude oil is pumped from the ground? Would there be a massive power shift? What other resources are available there that could allow those in power to stay in power? I know that those who have great wealth and power would be extremely reluctant to part with it, but what could they do?

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**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-downfall-of-the-middle-east/149970/2 "2003-01-22T13:26:10Z")

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Wow, not everyone at once…

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**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-downfall-of-the-middle-east/149970/3 "2003-01-22T13:39:03Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bongmaster \*  
> \*\*In another thread ( [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157716](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157716) ) we had discussed alternatives to using crude oil for its many functions. Assuming people were willing to bear the greater cost of alternatives, or perhaps lets assume we begin to run out of crude, what would happen to the people of the Middle East where much of today’s crude oil is pumped from the ground? Would there be a massive power shift? What other resources are available there that could allow those in power to stay in power? I know that those who have great wealth and power would be extremely reluctant to part with it, but what could they do? \*\*

You could investigate the United Arab Emirates, which reckons it’s going to run out of oil in the next few decades. **istara** could probably tell you more, but AFAIK, the government is seeking to realign the UAE’s economy along the lines of tourism, shopping, and import/export.