Political Power & The Arab Oil Weapon The Experience of Five Industrial Nations Roy Licklider, University of Califoniia Press, Berkeley, 1988, pp. xv + 343.

Abstract

Licklider selected an interesting topic and in spite of the logistical problems
that face such a study, he has done a remarkable job. His book is a wealth
of information and a record on a very contemporary issue.
It is history which is still unfolding. The “oil weapon” was a treasure
in the Arab arsenal. They used it and realized its worth. The deployment
of the “oil weapon” by the Arabs also showed them how helpless they were
although they thought the “lifeline” of the industrial world- oil -was under
their control.
Licklider’s book is seemingly weak in many areas because he has had
to depend on personal interview. It is not unusual for politicians and others
to deny statements or remarks made in such conversations. Also, Licklider
appears to be acting as “gatekeeper” by seeming to use only that portion of
the information he gathered which comfortably satisfies his thesis.
The author has included some useful observations. For instance he has
mentioned that Japan apologized to Israel for the Lod Airport incidence and
sent a delegation to the Arabs to apologize for apologizing to Israel. These
and many facts related by Licklider demonstrate now immoral the industrial
nations are especially in the case of Britain-the real father of the Zionist
entity. But more importantly such happenings reflect the helplessness of the
Arab countries: they knew that the industrial nations were deploying double
standards but they swallowed these bitter pills because they did not have any
alternatives.
Licklider’s book also brings into focus an important aspect of world politics
which is that no one can win an argument using a single weapon. The Arabs
had but oil to deploy. They did not fathom the reach of the doctored Christian
mind that has made people believe in the righteousness of the creation of
a state for the Jews. In fact this belief is so strong that the West considers
it a “moral” duty to support this entity without harboring any moral qualms
about the Palestinians diaspora.
The “friendly” and “non-friendly” labels granted to the industrial countries
by the Arabs is another manifestation of their weakness. It is clear from
facts gathered by Licklider that although the Arabs fired their shot they did ...