Wonder if it went anything like this?

About 1999, scene is a Texas yard lunch meeting, informally dressed gents of middle age are attended by a number of younger men and women. They are more formally (and expensively) dressed, they are of the "sharpest lawyer/accountant that nobody else ever heard of" caste.

1] Life's looking good about now, hmm?

2] Yeah, but we need to think long term. The way we're pumping right now US supplies won't last another couple-a generations, and the Arabs are just waiting to screw us when there's only their stuff left.

1] You're right there, I'm moving a bit into those Cannuck interests, no good for now of course, but when the price goes up and they come on stream, well I'll be in there.

2] Did alright that way with the Limeys didn't you?

1] OK, but it was just pocket change, and look attem now, blown it all and having to import again. No, what I need is to sort out the Arabs.

2] But how, we just had a war there and it made no diff?

1] Another war, only this time we make it hurt. If we stay we can maybe get ahold of their oil, good for us, we use their stuff until it runs out, and we still got our own. Or maybe we just stir that pot until nobody can get anything from there and we get even more for ours.

2] I like how that sounds, but we still end up running out don't we? Even with your Cannuck interests?

1] So what are you doing?

2] I'm thinking about alternatives, you know renewables, nuclear?

1] No money there, just a lot of crunch-heads and treee-huggers.

2] Maybe, but we get in at the ground floor, then when the big switch comes it's still our hands on the wheel. I got my guy Grunt researching outfits, buying into probable players, you want some of that?

1 beckons an aide across.

1] You have a new assignment. Talk with Grunt, he'll fill you in, we're looking into alternative energy technology.

Aide] ?

1] No, this time we're buying, not sabotage, but ve-e-ry quietly, don't want to startle the horses just yet. Oh and see about setting up a few perfesserships and scholarships in the same line, a few tame eggheads could be useful and it'll be tax-deductible.




2006, evening inside Northfork ranch, 1 is at the telephone.

1] ..so it ain't going well in Iraq, George, well we did see that as a possible outcome, history only forgets the leaders who don't have a war. Just stir the pot like we said, you'll come out OK.

G] Inaudible

1] Of course we covered your tracks, ours too, we've all been in this a long time remember?

G] Inaudible

1] Yes, it's time to start the withdrawal treatment, all the ducks are in line. You tell 'em they're hooked and have to swear off, and that you'll help. Come on like Mr Goodguy who puts tax money into research, save the nation an' all, and who owns the research, WE DO. Peachy.

G] Inaudible

1] No we have't sold-out in oil, that's the beauty of it. Sure they'll squeal while there's any left, and they'll pay whatever they've got. Some will buy the last of the oil whatever it costs 'em, some will sell their kids' eyes for the latest woodchip-powered lentil farm. It's all good as long as it's us that's selling.
They're addicted I tell you, addicted to power. Who knows addiction better than a dealer? Say, you might use that in the speech, addicted to power?

G] Inaudible

1] Yeah, better say oil, not power, don't want that idea floating free.