Perspective
Like most Americans, I have been thinking a lot about the War on Terror, Gas Prices, and the economy lately. I am sure that a lot of Political Analysts, Economists, and the like have thought of this before now, but I can’t help but think that the U.S. is under attack and that the enemy has found a most efficient way of winning the war without ever firing a shot. I am also pretty sure this is a very simplistic view of world politics.
Let me just lay my thoughts out on the table.
- Where does the U.S. get oil from? More than half of it comes from Venezuela, and the rest comes from the Middle East (Saudia Arabia, et al) for all intents and purposes.
- Which countries are the biggest enemies of the U.S. right now?
- North Korea
- Iran
- Which countries, while not outright enemies, are a threat in one form or another (State Sponsored Terrorism, etc)?
- Iraq (Insurgents)
- Venezuela (Just listen to Chavez)
- China
- Saudi Arabia (9/11 Hijackers anyone?)
- Syria, Jordan, and states adjacent to Iraq
Now, lets think for a second. Imagine you are an OPEC nation, or a poor South American Country ruled by a dictator that hates the U.S. You are looking for a way to hurt the U.S. and make them bend to your will in one form or another, but you cannot outright attack the country lest you turn into the next Iraq. How do you go about hurting this giant? Why you take away their money, of course! You continue to jack up the price of oil to the point where the country can no longer afford to wage war, where the populace starts to anger because they can't afford basics, and to the point where they come to you on their diplomatic knees to lower the price of oil. Not only does this have the effect of destroying your enemy's economy, it has the added benefit of enhancing yours because you are acquiring your enemy's money. Lastly, you have the pride of saying "See what I did to the Great Satan!"
Personally, I can't think of a better way to strike against the U.S. than to hurt our economy, and I am sure this has crossed the minds of our foes. Why are we even buying oil from our enemies to begin with? Why don't we just threaten with our own counterpoint when they raise the price? We do have a weapon in the arsenal. Most of the oil in the Middle East and South America is pumped out (or at the very least subsidized pumping) by American and British Companies (Shell, BP, ELPH, Exxon, Texaco, etc). We do have oil reserves as well. If we threatened to quit pumping their goods, for even a week, it would make them stand up and listen. It might make the Oil Companies grimace at the effect on their profits, but it would be worth it just to say "We aren't going to sit here and take this."
In my opinion, the Oil War is going to be the next Cold War with oil nations swapping punches with us and our allies and all its going to do is ruin the world economy. This suits our enemies just fine because they will reap the profits of our misery. We need cut off "Humanitarian Aid" dollars (as well as other funds) to our foes so we quit subsidizing their war on us. As a nation we need to tighten our belts and start pushing oil independent technologies so that we can win in the long run - before we can't afford to feed our own, or drive around the corner to even get gas.
Trackback URL for this entry is http://www.ffpblog.com/index.php/trackback/153/Fa0Xcgcw/
This page has been viewed 335 times.
I absolutely agree. Hitting a country economically is a powerful tactic. This is especially so when you add the fact that billions are spent on war while high gas prices creates a hike in cost for businesses to operate within the U.S.
It may be a simplistic view of politics but it’s dead on. We need energy independence desperately, but the oil companies are pulling record profits off the increases and aren’t likely to step off that gravy train any time soon. The best answer I’ve heard is for the government to place heavy limits on gas prices and profits for the oil companies, while offering bonuses and tax breaks for alternative energy development.
It’s government interference with the free market -which I generally oppose- but this is a matter of national security and economic stability. I think it’s necessary in this case. So long as we’re dependent on foreign oil, we will be a nation at war and under constant threat of terrorist attack.
Another simplistic view: once we no longer need mid-east oil, we’ll have no vested interest in how their governments and societies work (beyond humanitarian) and that will alleviate their view of the U.S. as “manipulators” who are interfering with their society for our own profit. Once that perception is gone, what reason do they have to attack us? If we’re just another country across the ocean they trade with, there’s no need for all the violence. I’ve never bought the whole “They hate us because we’re free” argument. People don’t give a damn how other countries live, they’re only interested in what affects them directly.
Anyway, just my $0.02 . . .
Later!
Yep, I think you hit it on the head there.
Offer a trade-off to the “evil” oil companies:
Every cent spent on domestic exploration, drilling, refining and delivery is subtracted from their taxes - the liberalites lose their “excessive-profits” talking point and the oil companies have a REAL incentive to make us more self-sufficient.
Oh…and offer a $50 per head bounty on radical environmentalists, payable in unleaded or diesel at participating gas stations….