While I like the idea of trying to inspire the (radical?) muslim countries in the middle east to develop out of the oil market, I don't think our $150M--or even $1.5B--will change anything.

The leaders in the middle east need to make these investments with their endless piles of cash.... and historically they haven't (Dubai for finance being a notable exception).

The truth is we should be disengaging from these countries on a business level by putting massive investment into solar, wind and nuclear. The investments in our recent wars in the region could have easily made us energy independent by now..... if Bush or Obama were true leaders they would have focused our resources on the goal of energy independence.