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| Crude Oil & National Security in the Age of Terror |
| 2004-03-14 |
CRUDE COMMENTARY By Mark Espinola, March 14th, 2004 Is the American public looking at another surge in summer driving, gasoline pump prices of between $2.25 to $2.75, or higher in key urban-metro areas or the West Coast? Prices could conceivable reach into the stratosphere if one or two international ’incidences’ occur adversely effecting world-wide energy supplies flowing to American shores. At present, crude oil prices are bouncing between a staggering $35.50 to $37.00 per barrel. The energy complex as a whole is being threatened with further hefty price hikes due in part to world-wide al-Qa’ida terror attacks, OPEC’s deliberate, coordination of petroleum production cut backs, coupled with the very tense political dilemma in OPEC’s closest supplier to the port of Miami, South America’s oil giant, Venezuela. Red China’s increased mammoth consumption is yet another prime factor fuelling an already volatile global supply problem. What if there was a serious ’problem’ located in the heart of OPEC, the oil rich Middle-East? Sa’udi Arabia maybe? How about some chaos sweeping terrorist instigating Islamic Iran? Further reductions in Iraq’s oil flowing to the west caused by Muslim saboteurs, or trouble in the major Gulf producing states would throw additional fear into the oil markets. The early pre-Spring of 2004 is already proving to be an expense one for motorists. Cruise into any gas station and ’fill er up’ and find out it is getting pricey out there. The Summer of 2004 may prove inflation will begin to raise it’s ugly head due to excessive, long lasting energy pricing, just in time for the presidential election. The Islamic terrorist planers of September 11th’s mass murders taking place on U.S. soil were hoping to totally decapitate the very top of the United States government, plus severely damage the American economy in one massive attack out of the high-jacked skies. Fortunately the jihadic-would-be-destroyers of western civilization failed in their evil endeavours. The growing problem we have as Americans is, in some circles within the political fabric, the lessons resulting from the appalling high cost of 9-11’s loss of American lives, which were supposedly learned on that tragic day in early September of 2001, have soon been forgotten by those seeking the highest office in the land and the Dem political machine. The determined enemy is watching intently and seeking to take advantage of America’s election period political disunity, dividing our nation once again. Even though the fiendish, fanatical Muslim sneak attack plot to dismember the economic leader of the western world was not successful, in early March of 2004 the U.S. economy is bordering on instigating an energy related inflationary spiral -if- the prevailing benchmark price of crude oil sustains itself for more than 3 to 4 months -or- worse, shoots beyond $37.00 a barrel and begins ascending into the low $40.00’s, remaining at those precarious price levels for whatever the reasons for an extended time frame. The high cost of energy will be tagged on to all purchased consumer goods, and that spells -inflation-! The fanatical leadership of world-wide jihad is more than mindful of American economic vulnerabilities, in relation to fully exploiting crude oil as a geostrategic weapon choice to inflict indirect economic devastation through the back door. They, the 9-11 enemy, are equally cognizant the U.S. Dollar has been in dire straits for a number of months up against the soaring Euro, in the daily currency trading market blitzkriegs. Not all that favour jihadic terrorism as a tool for a dreamed global Muslim empire are lurking in remote mountian caves. Some within the movement for jihad are playing the oil markets, bond issues and stocks, making contributions to the cause of jihad, tallying into the millions of dollars, euros & yen. This enemy of the free world also understands historically how to influence the politics of presidential elections, and would likely desire John Kerry, the unknown factor ’liberal’, in place of the well known anti-terrorist factor, President George Bush. This President is the very same guy who defeated and captured the once mighty Saddam, and also removed the fanatical 7th century thinking Taliban from total control in Kabul, leaving arch-butcher Osama bin Laden to become either the most hunted cave dweller in history, or an extremely rare Sunni guest of the Shi’ite terrorist promoting state of Iran. One side note of energy interest: More than two-thirds of U.S. oil consumption is in the transportation sector, where energy demand grows at full throttle. Al-Qai’da’s continued long range goal is the future establishment of a pan-Islamic Caliphate throughout the world by working with allied Islamic extremist groups. Spain being the latest ’double victim of al-Qa’ida’s goal of Caliphatism with it’s 10 bomb attack on Madrid’s subway system has resulted in some Spanish voters blaming the victims of terror, the conservative government and of course the general public, but not blaming the real terrorists and assisting the current anti-terrorist leader, prime minister José Maria Aznar. Spain & Portugal, once under the control of the ’Moors’ from the early 700’s, until being defeated in the year 1492, is viewed as lost Islamic territory of the greater Muslim Caliphate of the Middle Ages. Osama bin-Laden is letting be known the Madrid bombings could be the first wave of terror attacks in land he considers easy targets within the E.U. especially nations which have been vocal in their support of the American-British led Coalition forces combating Muslim fanatics in Iraq and Afghanistan. Radical Islamists in the al-Qa’ida movement are willing to link themselves with leftist ’infidels’ as long as their service proves useful to greater jihadic goals of absolute conquest of the West. The left should recall, they too shall be destroyed unless they ’submit’ to ’Allah’. Venezuela’s ultra-leftist dictator, Hugo Chavez is the dictator of a non-Islamic OPEC member state, plus being a terrorist supporter of anti-American causes. Chavez is an ally of the monomaniacal Muslim jihadists. Cuba’s Castro is a communist comrade in arms of Mr Chavez. Whether rabidly Muslim rouge states, or communistic tyrants like the North Korean slave state, the enemies of Washington have clearly forged an alliance of evil. The well financed Islamic enemy retains the threat of intended or actual disruptions of the globe’s energy flow to western nations. The ongoing threat is like a terrorist sword of Damocles hovering out there, somewhere, like a hungry vulture eyeing it’s partially wounded victim, just as the America’s economic well being & recovery is being questioned. As the presidential election cycle prods along, a sudden mid-course metamorphose for top man in D.C. would require a provocative ’test’ by the Islamic enemy, of the Lurch looking schlub potentially wandering down the long corridors of the White House, making every American’s safety in even greater jeopardy then presently. Is President George Bush the solution to all of America’s domestic & international security and economic problems, probable not, at least in terms the attempted Latin vote grab via leaving the southern border relatively unprotected to potential terrorists attempting to sneak across, mingled in among illegal aliens seeking employment. On the other hand, remember this, since 9-11-01 the followers of total jihad have been completely unsuccessful in launching any further major acts of terrorism inside of America’s borders. Speaking of the U.S. border quagmire, the overall security situation is by no means satisfactory concerning our many penetratable points of entry, but let us not forget the ’liberal’ Democrats do not view the ever-so-clear and present ongoing dangers poised to America’s national security & economic survival by the sworn, proven anti-American enemy, as does the current GOP administration. In relation of changing political horses in mid-stream when in time of war, in this case, if the voter makes a monumental mistake, we shall be stuck with a real donkey asleep at the switch. Happy summer motoring! |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #5 Trader? Friend of Soros? |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-3-15 11:09:56 AM |
| #4 I Googled on this guy, but found no bio. I did learn that he posted this exact same article on UN-on-line (UNOL)on March 6, 2004. Apparently he's trying to impress every one on the internet with his expertise. I also found a Mark Espinola who is a commodity trader. Same guy drumming up business? Probably. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-3-14 11:47:30 PM |
| #3 Which is exactly why I came down on him so hard. Everything I said was true but his choice to waste Fred's bandwidth amd use Fred's hard work as a way to promote his own writing caused me to choose to be blunt with my analysis. Mark get your own site for your work and if you have something relevant to say then maybe link to it. But you will be flamed if it appears you are only trying to build traffic to your site by leveraging rantburg's users. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-3-14 11:28:16 PM |
| #2 You write well Mark and make some interesting points but you are in the wrong forum. This site is for mostly hard news with Opinion and Comment in the thread. You would understand the restrictions if you have ever seen some of the screeds posted by our more logically challenged members of society. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2004-3-14 11:18:02 PM |
| #1 Ummmm, you do realize that oil is less than 2.5% of our economy don't you? I feel bad to blow apart your silly theory like that after you put so much work into your little thesis... but, well... I guess the facts are important to me. I know it's silly but that's the problem with us damn realists. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-3-14 11:11:09 PM |