War and Energy
Michael Klare, professor of Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College, is the author of “Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum.” He has provided information regarding the huge amount of oil that it takes for the Pentagon to operate its war machinery in the Middle East.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz pointed out in 2003 that Iraq "floats on a sea of oil" and told a congressional panel, "The oil revenue of could bring between 50 and 100 billion dollars over the course of the next two or three years. We're dealing with a country that could really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon."
Today, Iraq is pumping only 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, which is almost a million barrels below the worst days of the sanctions strapped regime of Saddam Hussein. The average American soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan consumes sixteen gallons of oil every day, either through the use of Humvees, tanks, trucks, and helicopters or by calling in air strikes. Include the surrounding region and sailors aboard our warships in the Persian Gulf and the daily consumption of petroleum for combat operations in the war zone it reaches approximately 3.5 million gallons a day.
Furthermore, for every soldier stationed in theater, there are two more in transit or training for eventual deployment to the war zone. They also consume enormous amounts of oil. To sustain our troops located halfway around the world, the Department of Defense must move millions of tons of arms, ammunition, food, fuel, and equipment every year by plane or ship, which consumes additional petroleum.
However, foreign wars account for but a small fraction of the Pentagon's total petroleum consumption. America has the world's largest fleet of modern aircraft, helicopters, ships, tanks, armored vehicles, and support systems. In fact the Department of Defense is the world's leading consumer of petroleum. In April 2007, defense contractor, LMI Government Consulting, reported that the Pentagon might consume as much as 14 million gallons of oil every day. This is greater than the total national consumption of Sweden or Switzerland.
American makes up only five percent of the world’s population, but consumes 25% of its oil. Apparently, the Pentagon’s addiction to oil is a major reason we need to invade oil rich nations. Is our imperialistic involvement in the Middle East in our strategic national interest or in the interest of the Pentagon, which needs to justify a bloated budget?
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz pointed out in 2003 that Iraq "floats on a sea of oil" and told a congressional panel, "The oil revenue of could bring between 50 and 100 billion dollars over the course of the next two or three years. We're dealing with a country that could really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon."
Today, Iraq is pumping only 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, which is almost a million barrels below the worst days of the sanctions strapped regime of Saddam Hussein. The average American soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan consumes sixteen gallons of oil every day, either through the use of Humvees, tanks, trucks, and helicopters or by calling in air strikes. Include the surrounding region and sailors aboard our warships in the Persian Gulf and the daily consumption of petroleum for combat operations in the war zone it reaches approximately 3.5 million gallons a day.
Furthermore, for every soldier stationed in theater, there are two more in transit or training for eventual deployment to the war zone. They also consume enormous amounts of oil. To sustain our troops located halfway around the world, the Department of Defense must move millions of tons of arms, ammunition, food, fuel, and equipment every year by plane or ship, which consumes additional petroleum.
However, foreign wars account for but a small fraction of the Pentagon's total petroleum consumption. America has the world's largest fleet of modern aircraft, helicopters, ships, tanks, armored vehicles, and support systems. In fact the Department of Defense is the world's leading consumer of petroleum. In April 2007, defense contractor, LMI Government Consulting, reported that the Pentagon might consume as much as 14 million gallons of oil every day. This is greater than the total national consumption of Sweden or Switzerland.
American makes up only five percent of the world’s population, but consumes 25% of its oil. Apparently, the Pentagon’s addiction to oil is a major reason we need to invade oil rich nations. Is our imperialistic involvement in the Middle East in our strategic national interest or in the interest of the Pentagon, which needs to justify a bloated budget?
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home