The United States spends $200,000 per minute on imported oil!

The United States spends $200,000 per minute on imported oil...$13 million per hour.

http://www.nrdc.org/air/transportation/aoilpolicy2.asp

What's in your wallet? Dollars which are shrinking in value as our debt load increases!

What's in al queda's wallet? Dollars Americans spend on imported oil which are turned into the weapons which kill American servicemen and woman.

National Security, energy independence and global warming are closely linked issues, which must be urgently and simultaneously addressed. Americans MUST break their addiction to imported oil. We MUST become much more energy efficient. We must bring on line, as rapidly as possible, EVERY source of clean, renewable domestic energy available to us. .

The national Intelligence Estimate 7/07 -Infrastructure Targets & Economic Aftershocks

The National Intelligence Estimate for July of 2007 titled The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland (declassified version) anticipates that attacks on US soil by al-Qa’ida’ are likely “… to focus on prominent political, economic, and infrastructure targets with the goal of producing mass casualties,visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or fear among the US population." http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/07/17/nie.terrorist.threat.pdf

A December 2004 al-Qaeda fatwa states:“We call on the mujahideen in the Arabian Peninsula to unify their ranks and target the the oil supplies that do not serve the Islamic nation but the enemies of this nation.” Worldwide, terrorist attacks on oil pipelines are on the increase.

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/testimony/2006/CopulosTestimony060330.pdf

Domestically, America’s oil refineries are attractive targets for al queda. No new refinery has been built since 1976, and under the best of conditions, our refineries just barely are able to meet demand. The post Katrina jump in gasoline prices made plain the economic implications of damage to our energy infrastructure.

America needs a comprehensive national policy which recognizes that
we MUST bring on line, as rapidly as possible, EVERY source of clean, renewable domestic energy available to us.

To do this, America has to play catch up ball. According to a July 9th, 2007 article in the Wall Street Journal, "The U.S. lags other countries in wind-turbine capacity, and government support has been inconsistent." Across the US, wind-power projects from Virginia to California are stalled because of a lack of parts. In Europe, where wind power has been in use for over two decades, renewable-energy companies anticipated a shortage of turbines and have locked in orders with the makers of wind turbine parts.

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/alternative-energy-hurt-by-a-windmill/n20070709133009990006

In May of 2000, 18 months before 911, The US Department of Energy release a report which stated: “Oil dependence remains a potentially serious economic and strategic problem for the United States…. Estimates of the costs to the U.S. economy of the oil market upheavals of the last 30 years are in the vicinity of $7 trillion, present value 1998 dollars, about as large as the sum total of payments on the national debt over the same period...These cost estimates do not include military, strategic or political costs associated with U.S. and world dependence on oil imports.”

http://www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cpr/v823/rpt/107319.pdf

The military, strategic or political costs to the United States of not becoming much more energy efficient and bringing on line, as rapidly as possible, EVERY source of clean, renewable domestic energy available to us are incalculably larger today.

The National Intelligence Estimate for July of 2007

The National Intelligence Estimate for July of 2007 titled The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland (declassified version) states that the United States currently is in a heightened threat environment…. al-Qa’ida will continue to enhance its capabilities to attack the Homeland…”

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/07/17/nie.terrorist.threat.pdf


Less than 72 hours ago my wife and I were flying home to Naples, Florida following seven days in the Villa Park, California and a wonderful family reunion. On each of those seven days the United States imported approximately 10.181 million barrels of oil per day.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html

Among the many reasons that the threat of terrorist attacks on US soil is increasing daily is that Americans are generously funding the enemy’s war against us with the vast flow of dollars we are spending on imported oil. . America spends more than $200,000 per minute on foreign oil -- $13 million per hour.

http://www.nrdc.org/air/transportation/aoilpolicy2.asp

A significant portion of those dollars is funneled to al queda, its affiliates, and imitators. Those dollars purchase the bullets, RPGs and components for the IEDs, which result in the death of American servicemen and women daily. Those dollars fund individuals and groups who are hard at work planning attacks on targets on US soil. Our dependence on imported oil makes us vulnerable to efforts by al queda to disrupt our oil supply. Of equal importance is the truth that the more fossil fuel we use, the greater our national impact on global warming.

We MUST reduce our energy consumption, both by reducing the waste of energy and becoming much more energy efficient. We MUST bring on line, as rapidly as possible, EVERY source of clean, renewable domestic energy available to us. National Security, energy independence and global warming are closely linked issues, which must be urgently addressed simultaneously. To paraphrase Winston Churchill in his calls for England to take seriously the rising threat of Hitler and Nazi Germany…Of course we shall do it in the end, we shall surely do it…but how much more dear the cost for every day’s delay.

Flying at 34,000 – post 911

Writing somewhere over Texas, on our way to LA, it is possible to reflect on many things as I sit next to my wife, Linda, and watch the shadow of our 737 on the clouds to the side and a bit below us.

At the Fort Myers airport our IDs were checked, our bags x-rayed and examined and we were both patted down. We are very thankful for the security protocol which tens of thousands experience at America’s airports now. It was undreamed of on September 10th, 2001. When what MUST be done becomes clear, goals can be articulated and what has to be done gets done.

A great deal of our travel experience would have been undreamed of on July 26, 1990 when the Americans With Disabilities Act became the law of the land. Linda has MS. Because her walking is limited, she needs to be brought to the plane in a wheel chair, and then assisted with an aisle chair to her seat. Airlines just didn’t do this prior to the ADA. Now it is routine, and it makes a big difference for people with disabilities. When what MUST be done becomes clear, goals can be articulated and what has to be done gets done.

Like the triple headed hydra of Greek Mythology, America faces three challenges which MUST be addressed simultaneously - national security, dependence on imported oil, and our national carbon footprint. Al Queda is at war with us and works round the clock to cause our grievous harm. Our dependence on imported oil makes us vulnerable to efforts by al queda to disrupt our oil supply. The more fossil fuel we use, the greater our national impact on global warming.

We MUST bring on line, as rapidly as possible, EVERY source of clean, renewable domestic energy available to us. When what MUST be done becomes clear, goals can be articulated and what has to be done gets done.

Critics of Live Earth complain about its carbon footprint http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/live_earths_huge_carbon_footprint/
, but the producers of Live Earth were overall very green savvy. If you are reading this, you have a carbon footprint. Every human being and almost all human activity does. The point is, the consciousness of more and more people is moving in the direction of reducing their own carbon footprint. Off-Grid journalist Brendan Montague clomplains that Live Earth became a “huge PR-driven machine with multi-national companies who have disputable green credentials. ” The reality is that the Corporate World is rapidly going green. Many were not in the past, however, the only place to change anything is now and in the future. Is it helpful to have someone in charge of vetting the “green credentials” of others?


Live Earth was a terrific multi media worldwide 24-hour infomercial on Global Warming and other environmental issues. Over 10 million people logged in and watched it on the web. One of the recommendations repeated many times on Live Earth is switching to CFLs. In our home, we replaced conventional 60-watt light bulbs with 14 watt CFLs. We get the same amount of light. We have not only significantly reduced our energy use and carbon footprint, we have cut our electricity bill by a third. Saving money while reducing energy used and reducing our environmental impact is SMART GREEN! It is very likely that sales of CFLs will increase as a result of Live Earth. That is a good thing, for the Earth, and for America. CFLs are much better than the older incandescent light bulbs. Not perfect http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070518-cfls-bulbs.html
but much more environmentally friendly. It seems very likely that LEDs may improve to the point where they replace CFLs, and that would be even better. “The perfect is the enemy of the good!” Right now replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs will, if it becomes widely practiced, have a large positive global impact. Live Earth may well contribute to the rapidly growing trend of switching to CFLs and gave us some great music too. Well done Live Earth!

The vulnerability of the United States to oil supply disruption

”Linking Al-Qaeda to this issue is ridiculous on its surface. It's the tactic of someone without much else to go on.” – Tom Chandler, comment on “Dam and more dam” blog by Greenhawk on 07/05/07.

Is it a ridiculous linkage? If you ask people in London, who are observing the second anniversary of the subway bombings in London, and who were, in recent days, once again targets, along with the people of Glasgow, you might find many would understand well this linkage. So too the people of Madrid and New York City.

The United States consumes approximately one quarter of the world’s oil
http://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption
According to April 2007 US Government statistics, the top 5 countries from which we import oil were Canada (1.909 million barrels per day), Mexico (1.460 million barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1.458 million barrels per day), Venezuela (1.182 million barrels per day), and Nigeria (0.891 million barrels per day).
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html
Certainly, there is a possibility of disruption of oil supplies from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Nigeria. Even as I write this, three year old Margaret Hill, daughter of a British oil worker in Nigeria, has been the latest kidnap victim of groups targeting Nigerian oil production.

In 2002, 62% of the oil used in the United States was imported. The vulnerability of the United States to oil supply disruption is recognized by the US Department of Energy http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/printable_versions/national_energy_security.html#supply.

Al Qaeda is at war with America, and indeed the entire Western World. Their ranks include people who are as educated and intelligent as we are. We are a nation that is dependent on imported oil. It makes us vulnerable to economic disruption. They are as aware of our vulnerability as anyone else, and they will certainly try to exploit our vulnerability.

Bringing on line, as rapidly as possible, clean, renewable domestic energy, including hydroelectric power, should be a national priority from the standpoint of national security, and it makes great environmental sense too. It would substantially reduce our national carbon footprint. Based on the above, it would be unwise to decommission any dam which is currently generating electric power. Indeed, we should build more.

Dam and dam more

In an article in the May 30th, 2007 Wall Street Journal entitled "Dam the Salmon" discussing the opposition of some environmentalists to the Klamath hydroelectric dams in the Pacific Northwest, writer Shikha Dalma notes: "These dams provide cheap, renewable energy to 70,000 homes in Oregon and California. Replacing this energy with natural gas -- the cleanest fossil-fuel source -- would still pump 473,000 tons of additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. This is roughly equal to the annual emissions of 102,000 cars."

But perhaps the most important point made in this article is that "Large hydro dams supply about 20% of California's power (and 10% of America's)." (Bold italics mine). http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010142

The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes hydroelectric dams as a clean, renewable energy source http://www.epa.gov/cleanrgy/hydro.htm

Some, not all, environments oppose dams and wish, for a variety of reasons to restore rivers to their "natural flow." Check out this blog: http://battlefortheklamath.blogspot.com/search/label/klamath The blog's writer says "PacifiCorp, part of Warren Buffet's financial empire, is willing to spend the estimated $300 million it will take to build the fish ladders needed for salmon to get on the other side of the four dams on the Klamath River instead of taking out the dams and restoring the river to its historic flows. Some studies show taking out the dams would cost less than building the fish ladders. PacifiCorp is not ruling out breaching the dams, but this is still a blow to those (including me) that hoped the high cost of the fish ladder system would cause PacifiCorp to tear down the dams for financial, if not environmental, reasons."

For many environmentalists, a major issue has been the impact of dams on salmon and other river marine life. Yet, PacifiCorp is willing to spend the money to build the fish ladders and in other ways modify the dams to protect salmon and other river marine life.

My basic premise is that National Security, energy independence and global warming are closely linked issues, which must be urgently addressed simultaneously. Public policy should reflect this.

Al-Qaeda, its affiliates and imitators, would be delighted to see hydroelectric dams, a domestic source of non-fossil fueled, clean, renewable energy removed. America can’t afford to decommission dams. We should be building more - and, they should be designed with fish ladders and other technology to address environmental issues. Its not that a hydroelectric dam has no impact on the environment, but we are certainly capable to building hydroelectric plants which have much less impact on the environment that we did in the past as well as environmentally upgrading existing hydroelectric dams.

Every kilowatt of energy produced by non-carbon emitting. renewable energy in America lessens our national carbon footprint, and weans us off Middle East oil.

The Issue of the Red Greens

As I write this evening, The first story on BBC news is the story of the Islamic Extremists who planted car bombs in London and Glasgow. The second is of Islamic extremists in a firefight with Pakistani authorities at the Red Mosque in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Kids with weapons dying because of the manipulation and deceit of adult
Islamic extremists.

The current state of global violence and instability is being fueled by an ideological movement of Islamic Extremists and is every bit as dangerous as the ideology of Nazism and Communism.

Every American is a potential target of Islamic Terrorists. Yet, day after day, we run our automobiles, factories and homes on energy largely derived from imported oil. Much of it from the Middle East. The danger to the security of of United States inported oil presents is enormous. And at the same time, the more fossil fuel we burn, the greater our contribution to Global Warming.

You would think that the nexus between national security and environmental issues would have brought people interested in either issues together a long time ago. One reason it has not is very well articulated by Rich Karlgaard in June of 2007 in Forbes Magazine. In many ways there are two very different green movements. The Red Greens see the ending of capitalism as necessary for solving contemporary environmental problems. It is very difficult for enviornmentalists of this ilk to work with Corporate America. Forbes Rich Karlgaard notes that "It's hard to find a major CEO today who isn't talking Green." His advise to CEOs who are skeptical about Global Warming is "zip your lip and go Green anyway...it's the smart, economical thing to do." Kirlgaard's basic premise is that "Going Green makes sense, dollarwise and healthwise." Corproate America is going green. Meanwhile, many Red Greens are upset because they are not doing it for "the right reason."


Hats off to the Environmental movement for bringing consciousness of environmental issues mainstream. In the present circumstances, it is urgent for both environmental and national security purposes that we break our addiction to foreign oil. In many ways today, however, it is not the environmental movement which is leading the way - its American business. Why? For some, certainly not all, in the environmental movement, it is very distasteful and unacceptable to think that American business will be a major player in the making the changes America must make. Even more unsettling to these folks is that Corporate America will make a profit in the process. Corporate America isn't the problem. Al-Qaeda and American complacency is the problem. If you dislike Corporate America so much that you'd rather continue the status quo than see Corporate America be a big part of the solution - Osama bin Laden loves you!