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Help support AmericanEnergyIndependence.com The 2008 Presidential Campaign
The 2008 Presidential candidates have all voiced support for energy independence. For this reason, American voters will choose a pro-energy independence candidate for President in 2008. However, voters should understand that Republicans and Democrats define energy independence differently. While some Republicans reject the idea of energy independence, most Republicans acknowledge and accept the need for energy security; indeed, many Republicans are passionate about it. Republican candidates who advocate energy independence are talking about economic and global energy security. When Republican candidates speak of energy independence they are campaigning for expanding oil production in Alaska and opening the oil fields off the coast of California (an oil resource potentially larger than Iraq). Republicans want all of America's natural resources available for energy production, including all federal lands that hold oil, natural gas, coal and oil shale deposits. The estimated 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from oil shale located in the United States is three times greater than the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. Republicans also support the development of technology to produce coal-to-liquid transportation fuels—an American resource that is greater than all of the oil in the Middle East. On the other hand, when Democrats speak of energy independence they are usually talking about independence from any and all fossil fuels as well as independence from nuclear energy. Democrats tend to play down or deny the threat of oil financed Islamic militancy, preferring instead to focus on the threat of Global Warming.
OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) produces about 40% of the world’s oil today, which translates to OPEC getting 40 cents on every dollar paid for oil anywhere in the world. Current OPEC members are Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Venezuela. All are Islamic countries except Venezuela which has partnered with Iran. In 2007, over 700 billion dollars flowed into OPEC from oil hungry countries around the world. How much of that money was given to support the worldwide advance of Islamic terrorism? With rising oil prices, OPEC revenue is expected to exceed one trillion dollars in 2008. It doesn’t matter where oil comes from. If the oil comes from a well in Wyoming, California, Texas, Canada, Mexico, Russia, or the North Sea it doesn’t make any difference because oil is a global commodity. The price is the same for everyone in the world. Demand anywhere increases demand everywhere. So it is always true that OPEC gets 40 cents on every dollar paid for oil anywhere in the world. It averages out to that fact. Islamic terrorism, as a global threat to civilization, cannot sustain itself without the massive oil revenue that finances it. (That does not mean their feelings and beliefs will not sustain, it just means they will have limited influence without the oil wealth.) Islamic militancy is emboldened by the perception of power and dominance that Islam derives from the world’s dependence on oil – oil that the world must get from Arab countries. Eliminate world oil dependence and the Islamic extremists will be deflated psychologically. Ronald Reagan is credited for defeating Communism without firing a shot; by economically isolating and suffocating the Soviet Union, while at the same time enticing their leaders and people toward freedom. In a similar way, initiating action toward achieving global independence from petroleum (as a source of energy) will lead to the defeat of Islamic terrorism.
Energy: The Most
Important Issue of 2008
— Speech given by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar
(R-IN) on December 18, 2007 at the Brookings Institution on U.S. Energy
Security and the
2008 Presidential Election. 
Strength and National Security through Energy Independence Future wars could be prevented if everyone who has taken a stand against the war in Iraq would turn their passion toward the goal of American Energy Independence. Standing against war is not enough – Standing together for Energy Independence will create a positive political force and a shared national dream.
Recommended reading: Help support AmericanEnergyIndependence.com |
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Ron Bengtson. Boise, Idaho USA |
The 2008 election will decide the future of America. There will be open
races for both the Republican and Democratic parties' 2008 presidential
nominations. For the first time since 1952 a sitting president or vice
president will not be a candidate for nomination of either major party.
The 2008 presidential campaign could be the defining election of this generation,
with economic and political consequences throughout the 21st century. 
It
is important to acknowledge that energy independence and global warming
are separate issues. American voters need to understand
the relative priority. Global Warming is a sustainability issue that
must be solved
as the world
progresses toward complete global modernization. In contrast, global
oil dependence is an immediate threat, a clear and present danger. Metaphorically
speaking, the threat of greenhouse gas emissions is like the threat
of
cancer from prolonged cigarette smoking; In contrast, the threat of
oil financed terrorism is like a coiled rattlesnake immediately on the
path
in front of a day-dreaming hiker.
“At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the country that faced
down the tyranny of fascism and communism is now called to challenge
the tyranny of oil. For the very resource that has fueled our way
of life over the last hundred years now threatens to destroy it
if our
generation does not act now and act boldly. We know what the dangers are here. We know that our oil addiction
is jeopardizing our national security - that we fuel our energy
needs by sending $800 million a day to countries that include some
of the
most despotic, volatile regimes in the world. We know that oil
money funds everything from the madrassas that plant the seeds of terror
in young minds to the Sunni insurgents that attack our troops
in
Iraq.” 
“Al
Qaeda must revel in the irony that America is effectively helping to
fund both
sides of the war.... As we sacrifice blood and treasure, some
of our gas dollars flow to the fanatics who build the bombs, hatch
the plots, and carry out attacks on our soldiers and citizens.... The
transfer of American wealth to the Middle East helps sustain the conditions
on which terrorists prey.”
