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2006-01-20 Home Front Economy
We can’t fight terrorism without energy security
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Posted by ed 2006-01-20 08:41|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Great articles this morning, rantburg.

“We are funding both sides in this war for the free world, as our
petrodollars are enabling much of the threat we most immediately confront.”

Says so much.

“President Ronald Reagan engaged in a consummate act of political warfare at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany on June 12, 1987. He called on the then-leader of the Kremlin, Michael Gorbachev, to tear down the wall that had long divided the Free World's city of West Berlin from the surrounding, Soviet-controlled East Germany. The US State Department tried repeatedly to remove that line from the president's speech.”

I thought this from www.warfooting.com, juxtiposed against another article you are running on State taking over USAID, made for interesting consideration this morning. The effect that former President Reagan’s statement had on eastern European people was deeply meaningful and inspiring. Hope State yields to use of this kind of “political warfare” ( I think it’s more an artistic upper hook--imagery and words in magnificent union. Course, it will require some artfulness...)
Posted by Jules 2 2006-01-20 10:36||   2006-01-20 10:36|| Front Page Top

#2 Perhaps what follows may sound like heresy and unpatriotic? What is said is said out of a sense of frustration. Many other ordinary Americans have realized the need to address the issues outlined in the article for a long time. Too bad we don’t have politicians that are worthy of Americans. Instead we have sniping, bickering, wasted time and wasted money in Washington. The wasted money comes off the backs of working Americans. Those ruling in Washington have jobs that pay well and benefits that are the envy of other Americans. Hell, most politicians that have been in Congress for any time retire millionaires.

1. A coherent energy policy in the best interest of the US has been non-existent for during my adult life (nearly 70 years). Our lack of energy policy has kept us tied to the mid-east for too long. As long as we are tied to the oil countries of the mid-east we will be at their whim. There is a need to move towards US energy self-sufficiency. Otherwise we will continue to experience high energy prices and the threat of constant war in the mid-east. I say, let’s move as rapidly as possible towards self-sufficiency. Let the mid-east go begging for markets in which to sell their oil. Saudi Arabia will come around quickly and quit funding our opposition. Iran will start having difficulty funding a nuclear program that they don’t need. They are sitting on energy reserves that would satisfy their energy needs for a long, long time. Their statements about the need for the development of a domestic nuclear energy program are bogus. We have nearly lost our ability to do anything about the growing nuclear threat from Iran.
2. As the article said, energy is becoming a weapon of a global war. Both China and Russia are using it to jockey for power in the world.
3. Our border policies are like are energy policies; feckless. We basically talk a good fight and little else. As the result, the American people suffer from incursions by illegals. The illegals most likely include terrorists. Moreover, the flow of drugs into American is a growing problem. These drugs result in a decay in our culture.
4. There is little Congressional leadership that is evident. The Democrats would be laughable if they were funny. They come across as silly. They embrace political correctness as the flag of their party. The Republicans aren’t much better. They have lost the clear direction they had when they took over Congress in 1994. They had a plan and a program to which Americans responded. The direction and compass seems to be missing today.
Posted by Flenter Slairong6789 2006-01-20 12:24||   2006-01-20 12:24|| Front Page Top

#3 FS6789 - speak it!
Posted by Rex Mundi 2006-01-20 17:36||   2006-01-20 17:36|| Front Page Top

#4 That means nuclear power for electricity and for industrial steam to..

Not going to happen anytime soon. Watch a fed official mention this method of generating power as an option and you'll understand why.
Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2006-01-20 18:35||   2006-01-20 18:35|| Front Page Top

#5 That faint rumbling I hear, is it a paradigm shift?

It's all doable - not without hardship and a complete change in attitude and priorities - but doable.

Average America needs to understand the Shell dollar goes directly from their hands to the Osamas of the east and points else. Needs to "get" that imported oil purchased here funds the terror side of this war on terror.

I'm a bit surprised there hasn't been a peep that I've heard about "boycott" or voluntarily and very abruptly reducing and/or eliminating use of oil products.

Just say no. And see what happens.
Posted by Hupomoger Clans9827">Hupomoger Clans9827  2006-01-20 19:04||   2006-01-20 19:04|| Front Page Top

#6 Well, might want to wait for spring.. But what would an organized, one-week, worldwide boycott cause in impact? Enough to show it could be done?
Posted by Hupomoger Clans9827">Hupomoger Clans9827  2006-01-20 19:09||   2006-01-20 19:09|| Front Page Top

#7 If we achieved "energy independence" it would only act as a subsidy to every one else in the world who would continue to buy their oil from the low cost provider, the Mohammedan Middle East. The wacko Mos would continue to get beaucoup bucks for oil and would still hate us, until we convert. Energy security would achieve nothing except to accustom us to higher prices and freedom to conduct war without an interruption of some of our energy supply. How much would this be worth if we weren't willing to go to war until being attacked?
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-01-20 21:21||   2006-01-20 21:21|| Front Page Top

#8 maybe that depends on how threatened the rest of the world feels.


But I see your point and regrettably concur
Posted by Hupomoger Clans9827">Hupomoger Clans9827  2006-01-20 21:29||   2006-01-20 21:29|| Front Page Top

#9 The US already subsidizes the world's energy consumption though our extensive military, diplomatic and foreign aid expenditures to keep the the oil flowing. Even before 2001, it was adding up to $50 billion per year (a 50% premium 12 millin barrels/day oil imports or 200% premium if only mideast imports are considered). Now that figure has at least tripled and oil prices have tripled.

My first preference is to apply sharia on the muslims, take their land and assets, and treat them as they treat infidels and Jews. But since the American public is not there yet, I would settle for energy self sufficiency with nuclear power at 4 cents/kilowatt, $40 barrel synfuels and zero contact with muslims. Let the former free riders shoulder the burden or fight it out to keep their energy lines open.
Posted by ed 2006-01-20 23:12||   2006-01-20 23:12|| Front Page Top

17:43 CaziFarkus
23:55 ex-lib
23:54 Salman Rushdie
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23:12 ed
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