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August 1971
the confederation in Benghazi, Libya
carne on the eighth anniversary of a
similar pact signed by Egypt, Syria and
Iraq. It was dissolved a month later.
The Power of a Federation
In 1958, Egypt and Syria federated as
the United Arab Republic with a com–
mon flag. Yemen joined later. It was
dissolved in 1961. Three years later
Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria
announced the formation of an Arab
Common Market. lt never carne to pass.
Nevertheless, this is no assurance that
the prescnt union will also break up.
And consider what the Union of Arab
Republics could do to oil shipments if it
wanted to.
Libya produces 3.4 million barrcls of
oil today. As mentioned, it is a major
Middle East Oil
Feeds Europe
and Japan
3-4
supplier of oil. Libra could also put
pressure on Algeria to impede oil flow.
Meanwhíle, the Suez Canal is closed.
Also, a new pipeline is being con–
structed from the Red Sea to the
Mediterranean.
lt
will accommodate
supertankers at both ends.
At the same time Syria sits astride
pipelines carrying Saudi Arabian and
Iraqi oil to the Mediterranean.
By simultaneous agreement, oil–
producíng countries could put the
squeeze on oil to Europe. The real
situation does not fall far short of the
possibilities mentioned
in
the scenario
earlier.
It is Jittle wonder that the United
States has recognized the Middle East to
be of prime strategic importancc from
its oil deposits alonc. The landing of
LEFT -
The mammoth
Tokyo
Maru,
one of new breed of super–
tankers built lo carry oil from the
Middle East to Jopan.
BOTTOM - The Japanese-built
31 2,000 ton tanker
Universe
lrelond
plys the oceon. Six more
tankers of the sorne size hove
been ordered by the Gulf Oil
Company to shuttle between
Kuwait and Bantry Bay, lreland.
IElOW- ICeyslont
Ptess
Pholo
LEFT- lshilcowojimo Horimo.
D
Oil
producing
lands
d
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