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Home Front Economy
When the oil stops flowing
2008-09-22
It will come as a shock to most Americans and the media, but as the election reaches a crescendo on the issue of preparedness and energy, neither presidential candidate - nor anyone in local, state or federal government - has developed a contingency plan in the event of a protracted oil cut-off. It is not even being discussed. Government has prepared for hurricanes, anthrax, terrorism and every other disaster, but not the one threatened daily - a protracted oil stoppage, whether caused by terrorism, intervention in the Persian Gulf or a natural disaster.
So the JPost is read in on all of the contingency plans that exist at the federal level?? Yeah, right.

The reality is that such a cut off would have massive consequences but they would be very much tied to the details at the time. Is there planning? yes. Should we be talking about it? no. Knock it off, JPost.
Of course we've planned. We have a Strategic Oil Reserve. We have plans to distribute it as needed. We also have (unlike Y'urp) a capable military that could help with various contingencies. There is just no need to publish our plans in the New York Times.
Posted by:g(r)omgoru

#7  The bulk of military land vehicles are diesel. Diesel engines can run on biodiesel with little or no modification (modification tends to be required in cold climates). The military could run off of vegetable oil new or used. It's the tanks and aircraft that require a better class of fuel.

Of course the economy would have issues. Serious issues. but if the US is having issues the world is screwed.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-09-22 22:36  

#6  Actually the USAF has already tried Synthetic fuel in a B1 and a couple of fighters. Supposing of cours that it would be cheaper. An account from a F-15 pilot said that "He could not tell the difference and the aircraft performed as expected"
Posted by: Chief   2008-09-22 21:07  

#5  part 1
A while ago we had a story about the US military researching synthetic fuels, Germsny did just that in WW2

[art 2
and Nimble Spemble asked what they know that we don't.

We know it's just a wartime thing when costs don't matter, synthetic fuel is for last-ditch times when no other fuel is available at any cost,
(They're trying to bring the costs down, but no real success yet)

Best saved for a war, not general consumption.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-09-22 18:46  

#4  I don't think that there's any question that our military can seize any oil fields we need to seize. That's the ultimate contingency plan.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2008-09-22 14:54  

#3  
A while ago we had a story about the US military researching synthetic fuels and Nimble Spemble asked what they know that we don't.


Well, one thing they know is that relying on foreign sources for military fuel is a weakness that should be shored up.
Posted by: lotp   2008-09-22 14:38  

#2  The other part of the plan is to drill here, drill now. President Bush put in motion, future President McCain will take the advice of his vice president, who considers oil nurturing oil production one of her areas of expertise. Israel, however, she merely counts as an interest, as far as I know.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-09-22 11:32  

#1  The real question they should ask is, when the real Oil War starts, will they be surprised that it'll be china or india that starts it?
Posted by: Anon4021   2008-09-22 11:26  

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