Last week I was in Washington D.C. and had the opportunity to hear James Woolsey, former CIA Director, deliver a speech to a selected military audience. I have heard dozens of speeches by people with his background; all smart, articulate, and well informed. Woolsey brought these unique features to his speech…passion and candor. Usually these guys are dull and politically correct.
His theme was to ask and answer the question “What is the most important thing that the United States could do to enhance its national security?” You might expect him to propose things like improve our intelligence capability, to spend more on the military, or win the war on terrorism. But he did not. He laid out a compelling case that the most important single thing that we can do to enhance national security is to dramatically reduce our dependencies on foreign oil and become energy independent…period. In closing, he pointed out that since 1973 (the OPEC oil embargo) when we first became aware of this vulnerability and its adverse consequences we have become even more dependent on foreign oil and have no national energy strategy to address the crisis. Denial, delusion, and self indulgences are hallmarks of disaster.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
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He hit the nail on the head. I hope those in power were listening!
ReplyDeleteThe Department of Energy was formed after the oil crisis on August 8, 1977 by President Jimmy Carter's signing of legislation, The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-91, 91 Stat. 565) to wean this country off of foreign oil dependence. Like most bureaucratic organizations, its mission statement has been corrupted to now include nuclear weapons. Why is it that we can not simply do our job? Why must we change our mission instead of using the brain power to accomplish our primary goal?
ReplyDeleteIf delusion, denial and self indulgence are the road to ruin, then how did the US make it this far?!
ReplyDeleteThose are our three largest exports (other than jobs).
George,
ReplyDeleteThat's the point! We haven't "made it" this far.
It's ALL a bubble. Old Bernie wasn't the only one selling "snake oil".
As per above, Dpt of Energy hasn't done much, has it? I like how the shame of using oil is commented as "...the American people are "addicted" to oil! duh, How else can I make my car go or have my home heated?
Give me a cheaper alternative for both; most of us will give up cold turkey our "addiction" on oil.
Somebody needs to get the propaganda straight. I've heard it all; but I am still hearing that we get most of our oil from American companies here in the States? What is the real truth?
We all probably feel apathetic. I mean if you want to complain to your rep in Congress you have to type a letter and snail mail it!
We keep doing the same things and expect? different results. Yep, that's insanity.
I wonder if anyone has thought about the recent happenings of civil unrest in the Middle East?
If our representatives keep up the insanity; we might all take to the Streets and demand again,
"NO Taxation without representation".
We're trying to run a huge goverment with old user technology. We're trying to pretend that a global economy is part of the problem and no one has a clue how the new global ecoonomy should work? Or have they figured it out, and haven't told us yet?
I'm too old to burn my bra as I need all the support I can get at my age; but, I am ready to put my sneakers on and march!!
Fed up...with the FEDS...Enough is enough.
Brenda Hayes