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Russian Oil and Alternative Energy
Americans are disturbed by the conflict between big Russia and little Georgia, ostensibly driven by Russia's desire to use oil and gas as a way to control states formerly part of the Soviet Union - as well as Europe. Reactions demonstrating our worry about oil are misplaced
Georgia tried to control Ossetia and Abkhazia, the so-called breakaway provinces of Georgia and the Russians took advantage of the situation and attacked mercilessly. While there, the Russians stormed the seaport of Gori enabling it to control the flow of gas to Europe.
Why did the Russians do this? Of course, Americans believe that it's all Russia's fault. They say that the Russians want to demonstrate that they still are a world power. With this occupation they are showing the world what they can do.
The Russians place the blame on the West. The West encouraged Georgia and the other states that were formerly part of the Soviet Empire to become part of NATO and the West. In addition, the West is installing an anti-missile defense system near their borders. They feel surrounded.
The response from the West, especially the U.S., was swift. U.S. and Europe are extremely concerned about being cut off from a supply of oil and gas. We are presenting ultimatums. But, of course, Russia need not worry about them because neither U.S. nor Europe are in position to follow up on their ultimatums.
Why are we in the West so worried? We are seeking energy independence. We want to be less dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil. So we sign up to be dependent on Russia's oil? We appear to be in a bind.
Gas prices are high enough. Making oil and gas flow uncertain, will make gas prices rise even higher. Sure, but high gas prices are no cause for alarm. They may act as a wake-up call. Not to do more offshore drilling. Not to build a different pipeline. Not to open pristine Alaska areas to drilling. But to speed up our search for non-carbon fuels as alternate sources of energy.
You may say that finding alternate sources may take time. Definitely. Drilling and building pipelines will take time too. We have no time. Scientist tell us that in about 10 years terrible climate-change problems will hit us. Let's not waste time on oil and gas. We need to immediately begin a speeded-up program to attack climate change.
Don't get me wrong. What Russia did is dastardly and deserves punishment. We should seek it diligently.
However, never mind energy independence with reference to Russia or Saudi Arabia or any other country. A much more urgent problem facing us is climate change. Let's concentrate on this problem. We have no time to lose.
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10:09 AM, 08 19 2008 | Permalink
Paul, what we are witnessing with Condoleeza Rice's comments this morning is the beginning of a new Cold War with Russia.
Just one small difference from the last Cold War. It is the U.S. whose economy cannot afford this new Cold War, and Russia's whose economy can. The reason for this is oil. Russia's oil reserves and supplier contracts are reaping the smaller Russia (vs. Soviet Union of the past), the kind of windfall profits and funding needed to engage in and spend on a whole new strategic arms buildup.
The U.S. of course, faces the baby boomer retirement decades, and unfunded mandates upon government spending equaling 10's of trillions of dollars over the coming decades.
Prime Minister Putin knows precisely what he is doing, and he is doing it because the the U.S. and Russia have changed shoes regarding each's ability to outspend the other on defense and offense escalation.
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12:03 PM, 08 24 2008 | Permalink
Paul, I am sorry others aren't responding to this important article and topic. It is really important.
I think though, that it is a mistake to think and focus on one problem only. Our situation in America is dire on many fronts and those fronts must be addressed in concert.
I think the missile defense shield in Poland may prove to be the beginning of a new Cold War as I have stated, and one we can ill afford to engage in. A multi-national approach would be far more intelligent tactically and strategically.
I understand that global warming is an overarching danger facing us all, but, there are other issues which must be addressed in concert because failing to address our deficits and debt, will mean the lack of resources to invest in countering global warming.
We have to break out of Bush's tunnel vision mold of thinking about our problems and embrace our capacity to multi-task a host of inter-related challenges which must be addressed simultaneously.
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