It Is Time for South Africa to Pay Us Back

SASOL, the South African oil company, is a pioneer in gas-to-liquids technology, which is short hand for the ability to turn coal into automobile fuel. Now, the industrialized West is clamoring for technologies that could reduce our reliance on petroleum, particularly foreign petroluem, so you would think we'd be jumping all over this technology. We're not, and the reasons why are for another post. Nonetheless, also consider that the West is nervous over the apocalyptic, radical Islamist, soon-to-be nuclear state of Iran, whose key economic weakness is their lack of internal gasoline refining capacity despite their abundance of crude oil. A lack of gas production is the single most important non-military lever we would have in any coming confrontation with Iran. So, who does it look like will be getting in on this wizbang South African fuel technology? Yup, Iran.

Would it be that hard for the US and Europe, who are seeing diplomatic solutions to the building Iran crisis falter, to open the pocketbook and outbid the Iranians? I mean, couldn't we give the South Africans as many fat contracts for GTL plants they want, just so long as they don't do business with Iran?

Moreover, I don't recall Iran being at the leading edge of the Anti-Apartheid movement either. The West needs to call in a chit with Mbeki and Company, and we need to do it now.