I told myself I wouldn't get involved in this really, but this oil thing disturbs me a bit. Christoph, you assume that people are necessarily better off in developed countries, but in what way? I admit that I like my computer and my electric guitar and my cars, etc, but this is me, and plenty of cultures are quite happy living how they want to live, why should we assume that they would be happier with our technology? The wealth that is created by arab countries through oil goes entirely to the very few wealthy people in high places, the average worker sees nothing of it, so maybe life is good for the Saddams of this world, but not for the rest. Economic sanctions are put on countries like Iraq, that mean that the average person goes without food, do you think that the Government distributes the money evenly? In order for Iraq to satisfy America's "food for oil" deal, to keep at least some people with food, workers are put to death on the oil fields, working until they cannot continue. Meanwhile, the oil fields are being over-farmed (is this the right word? you know what I mean), so tha tin a very short time they will run dry. This is merely to keep their end of the bargain with the US. In order to manufacture enough oil, Iraq makes themselves unable to create agricultural industries and the like, making them unable to become independant from the US; practically all of Iraq's food now comes from overseas. This is a vicious circle, which continues to keep Iraq creating oil at America's bidding. Iraq is now in the position of being totally dependant on foregn countries, who still impose sanctions on them, so they are unable to develop. So, how is this money that they get for oil helping them? Saddam is very rich. So are a couple of others. Yes, that seems fair. I bet the people are really happy for their leaders having the new technology of the combustion engine, so that they can further distinguish the rich from the peasants.