Russia’s attack on Georgia has highlighted, more than any other recent event, that oil independence is critical to America’s national security. If ever there was a reason for Americans to support alternative energy and to add or increase the number of alternative energy stocks in their portfolio, this would be it.
Russian Tanks Invade Georgia
While America has been focused on the middle east and OPEC as the primary beneficiary of escalating oil prices, for the past several years, Russia has been quietly ramping up oil production as well. Recent events make it clear where Russia’s new found wealth has been invested. They’ve been investing in a significant build up of their military allowing it once again to flex its totalitarian and imperialistic muscle.
Russia has become the world’s second largest oil exporter, taking only a back seat to Saudi Arabia. In fact, sometimes Russia actually produces more oil than Saudi Arabia. Additionally, they possess the world’s largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves. In addition to their oil exports, Russia is also the world’s largest exporter of natural gas, yet only the third largest energy consumer. To say that Russia is a resource rich country would be an understatement.
Russian Oil Pipeline Under Construction
As the world’s largest consumer and importer of petroleum, we are contributing to American vulnerability by driving oil prices to record levels thereby enriching oil exporting nations, countries that are, for the most part, potential enemies, sponsors of terrorism and real threats to freedom loving countries in Eastern Europe. At the same time, we are crippling our own economy by sending $700 billion a year out of our economy and into the economy of countries who are sponsors of terrorism and, but for the fact they control the source of our energy addiction, our enemies. Funding and enriching those who would choose to kill you or conquer you has never been a sound strategy and its one that American cannot afford to continue.
The price of gasoline at the pump may be unpleasant and make life a little… or even a lot harder but the price of gas is but a symptom of the situation that threatens American national security. Further exacerbating the situation is the apparent fact that the world has little stomach for a military engagement with Russia, should it continue its imperialistic outreach. There are only two possible solutions, prepare to kill Russia or kill the price of oil thereby reducing Russia’s newfound ability to pursue its desires for conquest. We support the idea of killing the price of oil and doing it now. It’s achievable and within our grasp and won’t upset the antiwar activists in the process.
What’s abundantly clear is that this is not an issue that should be used to gain political ground; America needs everyone on the same page of the “Protect America” play book. We need to drill everywhere and anywhere we can to find as much oil, as possible as quickly as possible while aggressively supporting the rapid development and deployment of all alternative energies.
Russian Tanks Invade Prague 1968
A few thousand dead birds or inconvenienced caribou don’t rank very highly compared to a free America. Nor does the view from an ocean front balcony matter in the least compared to the prospects of fighting and dying to defend our country. Allowed to continue $100 + a barrel oil will dramatically shift the balance of power in the world in ways that could cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of American lives. Remember, 418,000 Americans were killed in WW II. This pales compared to the 50 - 70 million total citizens of earth that perished in that conflict. Consider, a war with Russia would make the war in Iraq look like a flag football game by comparison.
It’s time for America to rally around the cause of American oil independence. This means that the Democrats have to stop the road blocks to offshore drilling and Congress needs to renew the alternative energy tax credits without playing games. The alternative is simply unacceptable. If we don’t declare war now on our country’s dependence on foreign oil, we may soon be losing our precious children on European soil or defending America’s shores. So will someone tell Nancy Pelosi that, while she’s busy defending the planet and selling her book, she ought to consider defending America as well.
