Most believe that when push comes to shove, America's thirst for oil will exceed its democratic principles.

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Short-term price movements, its oil minister insists, should not distract from the world's enduring thirst for oil.

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Though growing fast, China's thirst for oil still pales in comparison with America's.

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Global demand, meanwhile, continues to rise, thanks to an ever-increasing thirst for oil in fast-growing developing countries such as China and India.

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You remember about a year ago, when it seemed the world had an insatiable thirst for oil, it couldn't have enough, you know, factories were going full out, we were driving and traveling.

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It's thirst for crude oil and commodities has been blamed for driving prices to record levels.

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And Saudi Arabia's thirst for its own oil shows little sign of abating.

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Now these fields are coming towards the end of their most productive periods, and as decline sets in, the big private oil firms' thirst for fresh reserves is becoming ever more acute.

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