Oil as a Stratic Weapon or Political Tool
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
August 20, 2008 1:51pm CST
Is oil becoming a new weapon to be used against an enemy and how do we protect our selves. Resent events in Georgia have shown that Oil can be used as a weapon. Before Russia invaded Georgia they cut the supply of Oil and Natural Gas to the region. Iran has threatened to block the sea lanes leading from the gulf to the ocean to starve the west of oil.
In a different way Russia used Oil and Natural Gas to try to influence the out come of an election of a sovereign nation. During the elections in Ukraine between a pro western and pro Russian candidates Russia cut the supply of oil and natural gas during the peak of the winter heating season when the pro western candidate was ahead. Even in our own elections we had a foreign government offer very cheep heating oil to poor people. This was done through a family member of a perceived friendly candidate.
Are we going to be held hostage by foreign countries while we have the means to defend ourselves. If we drill for oil while we develop alternative energy we can prevent another country for threatening us with an oil embargo. We need to drill now and drill where we know there is oil. We also need to look into using coal. We need to use the resources we have or do what other countries tell us to do.
4 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Bob, I really don't enjoy agreeing with you, but you are 100% correct. Many people including Bill O'Reilly believe that oil will be the reason for the next world war. This was the first military action that was greatly effected by oil (oil had alot to do with both Iraq wars), you noticed No strong response from Europe because Russia is their only source for natural gas. Iran couldn't block the sea lanes if they tried, that is an idol threat that no one even worries about. Big oil has helped presidental candidates here for years remember the price of gas in 2004? Today, oil is really black gold, and those that have it are making so much money that they can control the world.
I do agree that we do need to drill, but we also need to keep that oil here in the United States. The problem that I personally have with drilling is the people that are drilling could careless about the United States. These are companies that have no problem dealing with dictators, communist countries, terrorist, and buying anyone that they need to get what they want. These people would have no problem taking oil from the United States, and sending to China even if we were at war with them. These are the same countries that were buying illegal oil on the foreign markets from Saddam while he continued to shot at our planes. These companies don't care about who they do business with, as long as they make money it doesn't matter. Do you really think that these companies will keep that oil here, when China will pay them more?
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
25 Aug 08
One of the problems with requiring that oil produced in the US being used in the US could make the price of oil increase. Oil drilled in Alaska it is cheaper to sell to Russia or China that to the US. We have to add the cost of Transporting that oil to where it is refined which is a very long trip. Since environmental Laws restrict where we can build pipe lines we are forced to use expensive truck transport to oil to refineries and then to the gas stations. Our system is old and needs to be updated but we are restricted by the environmental laws. We need to protect the environment but do we need to make the environment more important that people and their ability to make a living?
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Thank you for your response Bob. Atleast I think that response came from you, it sounded more like a response from the CEO of Exxon/Mobil. So what your post is saying is that all of that BS from that right wing republicans, about needing to drill for oil as part of our own national security is just right wing propaganda. So explain to me why it is that we should take the oil out of our ground to feed the needs of a communist country? I am sure that Ronald Reagan is spinning in his grave to hear Republicans talking about using our oil to support a communist government. You can blame the environmentalist all you want, but this administration has shown that laws don't apply to them, if they wanted to build new pipe lines, or refineries they could, and would. The fact is that the oil companies are more than happy to keep the status quo, and these is the same wording they use to blame someone else for their insane profits. If you believe this Bob, you really need to think about this, and use some common sense.
@ashar123 (2357)
• India
22 Aug 08
Mr. America you have talked about all over the world including Georgia, Russia, Iran but what about your own America, what is it doing in Iraq. Has US found any weapons of mass destruction. I guess not. For me oil is just a political tool for only one nation thinking he is cop of world and can impose war on any nation anytime. Think again Mr. you must improve your knowledge.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
22 Aug 08
About those WMD's...
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71076
This backs up the thoughts that those satellite images of tracks leading from Iraq to Syria prior to our invasion of Iraq were indeed accurate. The WMD's were trucked out.
Then there is this...
http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewContent.act?tag=3.5721%3Ficx_id=D91O8E100
Now it is your turn to gain knowledge.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Agreed.
We have got to start drilling and using our own resources... the longer we are dependent on foreign oil the weaker and more at risk our own position becomes.
The democrats WANT it that way, and until the voters wake up and face reality, and the fact that the democrats are putting us at risk, then the better off we will be.
we have to either get them to change their position, or we have to get them out of office.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I saw this one today...
http://www.aim.org/guest-column/russia-and-iran-energy-rules/
@mobilecubie (820)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Well the technology is already present and within reach, well for you anyway. For us in the third world we can only follow what is dictated by the market, its sad but we don't have the luxury to fight back. For us all we can get is the literature and do in our own way what we can. Well truth be told oil has been used as a weapon for as long as I can remember due to its dwindling reserves. Perhaps in the near future when there is no more oil there won't be anymore conflicts, but then again its a dream that I doubt will come true in the near future. The truth is we can only blame ourselves for depending too much on commodities just like oil, but in the lighter side people not know that its not right and are trying to change that.
