Topic: Foreign Oil

The European Council on Foreign Relations published a paper on the mechanics of regime change in Russia. The hosts discuss the failure of previous "color revolutions" in the region and the strategy of lowering global oil prices to destabilize the Russian economy.

A report from a producer at NATO HQ suggests that the conflict in Mali is primarily about protecting oil pipelines and interests for companies like Total. Despite a minimal weapons cache found, international donors have pledged over $4 billion in aid to the country.

CNBC's Erin Burnett discusses the Egyptian economy on Morning Joe, highlighting the role of wealthy English-speaking youth in the protests. She attributes the unrest to the global financial crisis and rising food prices, though the hosts focus on her being cut off by music when she mentions oil. The segment highlights her membership in the Council on Foreign Relations as a point of skepticism.

George Clooney's involvement in Sudanese diplomacy is analyzed as a public relations front for Western economic interests in African oil reserves. Clooney is depicted as an "economic hitman" working with the Council on Foreign Relations to prepare the public for the eventual partitioning of Sudan to secure resources currently held by Chinese interests.

A discussion on urban planning critiques the push for bicycle lanes, with the hosts claiming that serious cyclists frequently suffer major injuries in traffic. They argue that society cannot easily transition away from automobiles or foreign oil due to the deep integration of petrochemicals in all modern products, including plastics and electronics.

President Obama is accused of using the Gulf oil disaster to fast-track climate change and energy legislation. Senator Byron Dorgan is highlighted for his questioning of the Attorney General's office regarding BP's legal liabilities. The hosts argue the administration is pivoting from the spill to a broader "dependence on foreign oil" narrative to support cap and trade policies.

An Audi advertisement claiming that clean diesel could eliminate the need for 1.5 million barrels of foreign oil daily is criticized for logical inconsistencies. Critics point out that diesel is a distillate of crude oil, which would still need to be imported or produced from the same sources. The ad is characterized as an insult to consumer intelligence regarding energy production.

The conversation shifts to the administration's focus on reducing dependence on foreign oil through domestic resources. Mention is made of untapped natural gas reserves and the potential for wind power in the United States. The hosts argue that the country possesses sufficient internal energy resources to achieve independence if managed correctly.

MSNBC and CNN's coverage of the political speeches is reviewed, including CNN's use of Facebook polls for sentiment analysis. A fact-check of Obama's claim regarding foreign oil dependency reveals that the U.S. imported more oil in the 1970s than today. It is noted that a significant portion of U.S. foreign oil actually originates from Alberta, Canada.