creative commons/flickr/ by azrainman

Since the end of last year, we've been flooded with camera shots of Bush walking around in what looks like a lovers' embrace with dozens of Arab sheiks.

You can be pretty certain that every time Bush kisses the cheek of another Arab prince he has to feel regret that he ignored the advice of economists, think tanks and consumer groups that seven years ago warned him that America needed to save itself from imported oil dependence.

Countries all over the world are figuring out that oil dependence creates economic disaster for the needy types who are counting on billionaire sheiks to give them a break.

There are at least two parts to the problem:

First, Arab sheiks are running out of oil. The term peak oil is a reality that this administration has known about for seven years. They've known that out of 60 of the world's top oil producing countries, 50 have completely run past their peak production capabilities. Production is in an irreversible free fall. It is a development that oil royalty won't acknowledge because they want the US oil addiction to last as long as possible.

Second, the idea that the US can drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and solve our oil impasse is bogus, right-wing radio hype aimed at blaming gas prices on the Democrats.

The truth is that it would be 15 years before any ANWR oil could be pumped from the ground. The impact of that ANWR oil would decrease the price of oil by a paltry 75 cents per barrel, according to the government's own studies. America blows through 20 million barrels of oil per day. ANWR sources would only provide 800,000 of those barrels and we would still be in the place W was told we were heading seven years ago - laying prostrate and pleading at the feet of billionaires in white robes.

In the 1970s, Iceland was 100 percent dependent on outside sources to meet energy needs. It was the poorest economy in Europe because of that endless economic drain. Today Iceland is energy independent. Home heating is done geothermally, and solar, wind and hydro energy are primary energy sources minimally supplemented by fossil fuels.

Six years ago Sweden followed suit by announcing that by 2020 they would no longer be dependent on fossil fuel. Last year Israel proclaimed that their energy infrastructure would be free of the economic drain of fossil fuel imports by 2025. The oil that OPEC controls first started developing when dinosaurs were alive and well. Today, a different kind of dinosaur still roams the earth. They are alive and well within the ranks of this administration that relies on Jurassic, dated thinking to solve America's most serious problems.

The solution to energy dependence is not found in places like ANWR. The solution certainly is not to plead with Arab sheiks like the pathetic beggars we have appeared to be recently. Instead of embracing Middle East dictators and hoping for the best as we have for almost eight years now, it's time to accept and embrace the good advice that W has for so long chosen to ignore: End our oil addiction.