Who are you, what do you do, who are you loyal to and why? These deeper questions of identity weave throughout the narrative of Syriana. Yesturday I saw the movie for the second time (the first time was Saturday). As I do everything these days - I kept 'identity' in mind and it made it even more depth and intesnsity. I would recommend it to you all.

It is a political economy thriller (my favorite kind). It touches on a range of the complex issues of today's world.

• A web of entrenched oil interests
• US interest in energy reserves and the rise of China
• Secret operations 'in American interesAmerican interest'
• The lack of economic opportunity for the "youth buldge" coming of age in the Arab/Muslim world with no hope of a good job there for no hope of getting married and having "a life."
• The intense living conditions of migrant workers throughout the middle east.
• How corporate acquisitions and flexibility affects peoples lives - 'letting them go.'
• When work disappears and religious "institutions" become appealing life options leading to young men willing to kill themselves for 'the true faith.'
• When emir's pick their successor based on the preference of Texas oil firms, their law firms and American 'government interest.'
• When flights flying far above and missiles can take out the one car with the one guy they don't want around any more.

Identity arises again and again. I am going to write more about this after I see it a third time today.