What will happen to the ME when the oil runs out?

[Indenturedebtor]

At this point I think that it's pretty much undeniable that the oil in the Middle East will be running out in the next couple of decades, and barely arguable as to whether or not the economically obtainable oil will go along with it (the ME currently produces approximately 2/3 of world oil supply).

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/world-oil-supplies-are-set-to-run-out-faster-than-expected-warn-scientists-453068.html

So what will happen?

Personally I predict massive economic destabilization, followed by the further demonization of minorities/foreign powers - which leads to an increase in fascism. From there I think that we'll see some of the colonially established countries like Iraq collapse, and we'll see regional power houses gobble up the pieces. About 10 years after the fields go dry and the world has moved on to other ways to fuel a car, I think that we'll likely have a couple of big regional powers like Saudi and Iran that will gobble up the smaller countries and then turn inwards to suppress and milk their utterly propagandized populace.

What do you think?

On another note I think the same thing will likely happen here in the US when our primary economic driver (imaginary money) dries up.

[metapunditedgy]

1. Depends. Are you a billionaire?

:-)

I think there are enough other ways to produce energy that will kick in before we go all Frank Herbert. The goal is to make those energy methods public and shared.

[imdjh]

2. It will go back to being worthless.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. I'm curious. What makes a country "worthless"? What criteria? What cutoff? -nt

[lapfog_1]

3. There is a saying in Saudi Arabia...

My grandfather herded camels.
My father rode bicycles.
I drive cars.
My children will pilot jets.
My grandchildren will herd camels.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Oil running out in the ME will be a world problem. Can you say WWIII?

If you hope that we will transfer to a new energy source in a couple of decades from now is beyond optimism.

[excess_3]

5. the electric car is coming .n/t

[exboyfil]

6. Huge solar farms for Europe

It has already been proposed.

[havocmom]

dupe

bugs are bugging me

[havocmom]

8. I hear there is sunshine in Arabia too

[The Straight Story]

7. THIS:

[cowcommander]

9. Severe regional destabilization

Saudi Arabia is currently a welfare state, with inadequate millions being paid to keep the local population content, and even billions more wasted to keep the small royal family living in luxury. But with oil as their only reliable source of income, the country will rapidly fall into anarchy and tribal conflict as the oil runs out and people start demanding basic necessities. It'll be a disaster, we'll probably have to go in again to defend Israel if the fighting gets that bad.

[meow2u3]

11. They might go to war with us to steal our solar panels

After all, there is a lot of sunshine in the Arabian desert. Solar panels will probably cost more than oil has ever cost if they get their hands on all the solar panels.