Alternative Energy and National Security
Frequent contributor Brian McGowan comments on my post in which I write:
“Lastly, I appeal to patriotism. If you really care about America, and I’m sure the vast majority of the show’s listeners do, here are a few things to consider: Our addiction to oil causes us to borrow half a billion dollars a day and send it to our enemies. Our economic solvency declines at the same time that the strength and power of terrorists increases. If you understand this, and if you care about our national security, I think you’re at a loss to defend an energy policy rooted in oil.”
…. and he comments…
You might mention that our military understands that we are feeding our enemy and that this has always been a failed military strategy and while they seek to minimize this, congress is forcing them to continue down the current path and thwarting their efforts to stop doing this.
That’s a fabulous point, Brian. Thanks very much. It is, however, unclear exactly why our military wants an end to our oil addiction. Here’s a sneak preview of my new book, in which Cato Institute spokesperson Jerry Taylor takes me to task for suggesting that ex-CIA director James Woolsey has altruistic motives in this direction. Here’s a short excerpt from our discussion. Yowzers.
CS: I say that this is the most patriotic thing you can do, if you care about the health, safety, well-being, and expansion of prosperity of the United States, the very best thing we can do is to become a leader in “new energy.” I go back to what Patton said, or at least George C. Scott’s rendition: “America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser.” In less than a decade we’ll be the second largest economic power of the world. We’re not going to be happy there.
JT: On this national security and patriotism thing, and I must tell you I have absolute contempt for the argument intellectually. James Woolsey, Gal Luft and a group of generally neoconservative policy experts have long tried to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. Why? Do you think they went to an NRDC meeting and saw the light? No, they want to rain down bombs on the Middle East and they believe that our reliance on foreign oil inhibits American policy there. They believe that it constrains us; that we’re worried if we were to do something about Iran getting a nuclear weapon that it would send the oil markets crazy and send the world off into an economic tailspin.
