Three early but positive signs that things may get better in the Middle East.

[Uncle Joe]

28. There is a third critical dynamic that comes into play as well.

Israel must make peace with the Palestinians, this would greatly stabilize the region giving no excuse for another oil shock.

Should the West make a good peace with Iran, funding of Palestinian opposition forces against Israel should dry up, contingent on Israel making peace with the Palestinians and allowing them to have their own nation and all the rights that go with that.

I also believe the world is waking up and changing in regards to the use of fossil fuels in general, recognizing the growing dangers it poses to life as we know it, even the Gulf States.

One dynamic working against a sudden increase in oil prices would be in creating additional impetus to rapidly transitioning to renewable sources of energy, solar and wind energy sources would become cheaper as a result.

I don't believe the new Prime Minister of Iraq will rule as a dictator, they've learned that lesson the hard way and with Iraq having major influence in both Shia and Sunni camps, a success there could and over time I believe would influence other nations in that region to adopt a more democratic model.

I don't believe the U.S. has anything against democracy so long as our corporate, economic, national interests aren't damaged as a result.

Of course supporting dictators carte blanche costs our nation more over the long haul anyway and I believe we're on the throes of waking up to that reality as well.