Jane Bryant Quinn: The Price of Our Addiction

[question everything]

The Price of Our Addiction

By Jane Bryant Quinn
Newsweek

April 24, 2006 issue - The U.S. lives in an energy trap. We fell into it gladly, dug it deeper and sit fat and happy, with blinders on. We're fed daily meals of imported oil, from countries we pay in IOUs and think we can push around. But now we're starting to see the costs and risks of our dependency—and I don't only mean gasoline averaging $2.74 a gallon at the pump. For years to come, we'll be in the hands of some of the most dysfunctional governments in the world. Oil prices will rise and economic growth will slow—not this year, but almost certainly a few years out. We'll be paying in both treasure and blood, as we fight and parley to keep ever-tighter supplies of world oil flowing our way.

(snip)

That puts the oil-dependent countries in a serious bind. We're all jockeying for control of oilfields, in a vast game that runs the risk of turning mean. China and Japan are running warships near disputed oil and natural-gas deposits in the East China Sea. China is doing deals in Sudan, Venezuela and Iran (our "bad guys"). Russia looks less friendly as we continue to invest in the oil countries around the Caspian Sea—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan.

Nobody really knows how much oil there is. State-run companies don't disclose their true reserves. But clearly there's not enough to cover long supply disruptions, and that puts future economic development at increasing risk. "Terrorists have identified oil as the Achilles' heel of the West," says Gal Luft, head of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. The world market is losing maybe 1.5 million barrels a day to political sabotage. In February, the Saudis foiled an attack on one of their major oil installations. Had it succeeded, it could have been an "energy Pearl Harbor," Luft says. No one can foresee how world markets would respond if we attack Iran, but traders are clearly running scared (oil touched $70 a barrel last week).

This throws our Iraq wars into a different light. To an extent that most Americans don't yet understand, the U.S. military has become a "global oil-protection force," says Michael Klare, an expert on natural-resource wars and author of the book "Blood and Oil." President Jimmy Carter declared the free flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to be a vital U.S. interest, enforced at the point of a gun, if necessary. Today, we patrol tanker routes not only in the gulf, but in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Troops and advisers help protect pipelines in chaotic countries such as Colombia and the Republic of Georgia. We're planting military bases near oil supplies in Asia and Africa. Gulf War I was billed as a war to save Saudi oilfields from Saddam Hussein. Gulf War II was elevated to a "war against terror." But it's arguably still about oil—the Carter Doctrine reigns. One of the prizes in Iraq was to have been British and American access to its huge and unexploited oil reserves, Klare says.

(snip)

Unfortunately, we're investing in war, not in crash projects to develop new energy sources. Maybe there's time to spare. But some events, like true civil war and collapse in Iraq, could change everything in a day. We're running a faith-based energy policy—still addicted to oil. If something goes wrong, it will go wrong big.

Reporters: Temma Ehrenfeld with Ramin Setoodeh


URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12333796/site/newsweek/

[Why Syzygy]

1. K&R

No kidding. Billions shipped off to presumably Ira*q. It goes into pockets we know. At least someone is trying to make sure we have the stuff. I guess. It isn't good.

[calimary]

2. Glad somebody's bringing this up.

Thanks for posting. K&R!

[question everything]

3. Perhaps this is what we need to stop the sprawl

Some cities have been trying to promote core cities while limiting sprawl. These cities were denigrating as, for example, People Republic of Portland (OR).

Certainly in the Twin Cities area there have been a debate between adding more lanes and promoting public transportation. With the influx of Republicans into the suburbs and a Republican governor who believes that "fees" are not taxes, the sprawl is winning.

And I finally figured out why people drive Hummers. During the weekend, while parking in front of a multiplex, I saw a Hummer sandwiched between two mid size sedans. Yesterday, while going to the gym, I saw one there too.

I am talking typical suburb, with cement taking over in roads and parking lots. But, hey, this is what Hummers are for. To drive to the suburban movie theatre and to the suburban gym.

Having a real shortage of gasoline will do wonder to bring people back to the city or at least leave the car at a "park and ride" and take public transportation.

[4dsc]

4. Rather optomistic

I wonder if Jane is trying to tell us something about peak oil without mentioning peak oil??

Within 10 or 15 years, it too may not pump enough to meet increased demand.

Ya think??