In 1965 Frank Herbert published the novel Dune. The book described a fictional world were a number of powerful Houses (nations) that controlled the known universe fought over the control over a single seemingly unimportant desert planet. The imporatnce of this dry, hostile planet was derived from the Spice.  This substance enabled the Navigators to travel throughout the known universe in mere seconds and could only be found on Dune. As such this substance, and as a consequence the planet Dune, was of utmost importance to intergalactic trade. The pesky problem were the locals – The Fremen. While they cooperated for sometime with the intruders, at one point they decided to revolt and get their freedom.

Today this book reminds me of what is currently going on in the Middle East. The parallels between the fictional world of Dune and countries in the Middle East are too numerous to count but what it boils down to is this: the cheap oil that we need to keep the price tag of our lifestyle low comes mostly from a world that is currently in turmoil. You can see the mixed feelings in the face of the western politicians – the uncertainity, the careful way with which they comment this subject. Until today few dared to speak out against the rule of Mubarak and others in the region although the issues have been there for a long time. I believe that while the western powers do want freedom and a higher quality of life for the Middle East, they want stability and a constant flow of cheap oil even more. In Dune the Fremen did gain control of their homeworld again and held the universe hostage with the Spice.

Let us hope that when the Middle East nations stabilize and form a new order, designed for the people by the people, that we will find common ground and that they will want to be allies.