|
|
 |
|
Reply
| | | Message 6 of 6 in Discussion |
|
The war �?is a waste of time�?BR>
It is foreign oil dependency that has made the U.S. vulnerable to geopolitical developments in oil-producing regions. The invasion of Iraq thus reducing oil out put and robust economic growth in Asia, particularly China and India, has led to a chronic imbalance in the oil markets in which the quantity of oil demanded already often exceeds the quantity produced. The possibility that the quantity demanded might sometimes exceed overall productive capacity is not unlikely, and will only foretell of greater shortages as time goes by. This could lead to energy price pressures. With a majority of the world's oil reserves under the control of state-owned enterprises, political considerations could trump economic ones should competition for oil grow increasingly fierce.
In addition, growing Iranian power could lead to demand imbalances. Iran is arguably bent on developing nuclear weapons. Given its geographic location and the reach of its existing missiles, Iran is already in a position to decimate the Persian Gulf’s oil facilities and shipping, should the international community employ military force to curb its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s repeated threats to destroy Israel, his frequent denials of the Holocaust, and his belief that a world without the United States is possible, make the situation there highly dangerous. Despite all its risks and costs, military action against Iran might well prove unavoidable in the future. But, at this time, a diplomatic solution is still very viable if direct bilateral negotiations are initiated and reasonable flexibility that accommodates the core needs of all sides is offered. This is something that Obama understands.
Even if Iran’s nuclear ambitions are thwarted through diplomacy, radical Islamist terrorists could increasingly target the oil supply. Such a strategic approach would give these terrorists the tremendous capacity to damage the world’s economies that individual terrorist strikes across the globe, barring those with weapons of mass destruction, cannot hope to achieve. An oil-focused strategy by Islamist terrorists would greatly increase the costs and difficulties of defeating expansionist Islamist totalitarianism. Should such developments shatter international resolve against Islamist terrorism, the prospects for victory in this vital endeavor would be diminished and the future rendered far bleaker.
Under any or all of these scenarios, the world’s economies will be the “shock absorbers�?for resulting oil production shortfalls or disruptions. The oil price would rise to such an extent that inflation would increase and economic growth would be strangled. The world could then witness a return of 1970s-style stagflation (high inflation coupled with high unemployment). Improvements in the standard of living in both developing and developed countries could slow or even cease altogether.
Oil dependency has contributed greatly to freedom of people in many countries due to the wave of rich petrol-authoritarian states—like Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Nigeria and Sudan—which now have more petro-dollars than ever to do the worst things for the longest time.�?BR>The U.S. lacks a credible energy policy and we are even more oil dependent then we were 8 years ago. We need a credible energy policy aimed at mitigating foreign oil dependency, in addition to stop the hemorrhage our precious hard earned America dollars going into the hands of our enemies.
The war in Iraq is a bullshit waste of precious time and money. We need to win the real war which is won through economic prowess. This is what we need to concentrate on. This can be achieved by a multifaceted approach.
Commit to total North American energy independence by 2015 or sooner.
Much higher caf�standards soon
Total commitment to electric cars.
Total commitment to wind, solar, and Geothermal generation of electric through serious tax incentives.
New Nuclear Electric power plants
Serious tax incentives for both energy conservation and installation of Solar energy systems for every home.
Change all trading pacts so that we tax others countries goods at exactly the rate that they tax ours.
|
|
|
|
Prev Message
