OCPA 0 FaxLine Report Simple Storage Service (S3)
OCPA 0 FaxLine Report
a cublic colicv information service for members of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Inc.
Dear OCPA Member:
Thursday, October 5,2006
"It is only a matter of time until America's energy security, including its economic health and defense capabilities, will be jeopardized by the growing political instability, terrorism, and potential warfare in the Middle East. Over time, the U.S. needs to limit its dependence on foreign oil, especially from the Middle East, shifting to other sources of supply and eventually to new types of energy sources. Limiting U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil will be a major strategic challenge for the U.S. in the coming decades," notes Ariel Cohen, Ph.D and Senior Research Fellow in International Energy Security at The Heritage Foundation. Paul Roberts, author of The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World, claims that "we are on the cusp of a new kind of war -- between those who have enough energy and those who do not but are increasingly willing to go out and get it. While nations have always competed for oil, it seems more and more likely that the race for a piece of the last big reserves of oil and natural gas will be the dominant geopolitical theme of the 21st century." Meanwhile, Frederick W. Stakelbeck, Jr., Senior Asia Fellow with Washingtonbased Center for Security Policy, says countries are adopting what he refers to as "global strategic positioning" or GSP in foreign policy. "The concept of GSP can be defined as, 'The development and support of private and state-owned assets, governmental or military relationships, and business associations with foreign countries positioned at key global strategic points, either independently or in multicountry arrangements, for the purpose of accumulating information, influence, power and technological expertise.'" Such strategic positioning includes oil. You see that with China actively exploring oil fields for Cuba 50 miles from Key West, Florida. Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez uses GSP too. Stephen Johnson, Senior Policy Analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation, writes "Chavez still supplies Cuba's Castro regime with 50,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil and oil derivatives per day, all at below-market prices and on easy credit, reportedly financed over 15 years at 2 percent interest. Cuba allegedly owes Venezuela more than $1 billion in arrears. "Mr. Chavez also promised below-market petroleum to Caribbean nations in return for friendship. This past June, he signed a pact with 13 countries to supply them with oil at 60 percent of the market price, with the other 40 percent converted to a 25-year loan." Energy is a necessity not a luxury. America must realize that the more dependent we are especially on nations like Venezuela (our fourth largest foreign oil supplier) the more we assist rouge regimes whose purposes are directly contrary to American interests. Plus, there is always the perpetual threat that at any time Chavez might pull the plug on supplying America with Venezuelan oil. As the former Soviet Union can attest, military power is not enough. We must maintain our economic power as well. That begins with becoming self-sufficient in our energy needs while implementing our own global strategic positioning plan of action. Until next time. .. Brett A. Magbee, Vice President for Operations If you know others who would like to receive the OCPA FaxLine Report, please let us know by contacting us at: Oklahoma Councilof PublicAffairs,Inc., 1401 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 Tel: 405-602-1667 I Fax: 405-602-1238 I Website: www.ocpathink.org OCPA is a research and educational organization promoting public policies consistent with the principles of individual liberty, free enterprise and limited govemment. Contributions to OCPA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Nothing written in an OCPA FaxLine Report is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the membership of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Inc., or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the Oklahoma House or Senate, United States Congress, or any other government body.
a cublic colicv information service for members of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Inc.
Dear OCPA Member:
Thursday, October 5,2006
"It is only a matter of time until America's energy security, including its economic health and defense capabilities, will be jeopardized by the growing political instability, terrorism, and potential warfare in the Middle East. Over time, the U.S. needs to limit its dependence on foreign oil, especially from the Middle East, shifting to other sources of supply and eventually to new types of energy sources. Limiting U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil will be a major strategic challenge for the U.S. in the coming decades," notes Ariel Cohen, Ph.D and Senior Research Fellow in International Energy Security at The Heritage Foundation. Paul Roberts, author of The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World, claims that "we are on the cusp of a new kind of war -- between those who have enough energy and those who do not but are increasingly willing to go out and get it. While nations have always competed for oil, it seems more and more likely that the race for a piece of the last big reserves of oil and natural gas will be the dominant geopolitical theme of the 21st century." Meanwhile, Frederick W. Stakelbeck, Jr., Senior Asia Fellow with Washingtonbased Center for Security Policy, says countries are adopting what he refers to as "global strategic positioning" or GSP in foreign policy. "The concept of GSP can be defined as, 'The development and support of private and state-owned assets, governmental or military relationships, and business associations with foreign countries positioned at key global strategic points, either independently or in multicountry arrangements, for the purpose of accumulating information, influence, power and technological expertise.'" Such strategic positioning includes oil. You see that with China actively exploring oil fields for Cuba 50 miles from Key West, Florida. Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez uses GSP too. Stephen Johnson, Senior Policy Analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation, writes "Chavez still supplies Cuba's Castro regime with 50,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil and oil derivatives per day, all at below-market prices and on easy credit, reportedly financed over 15 years at 2 percent interest. Cuba allegedly owes Venezuela more than $1 billion in arrears. "Mr. Chavez also promised below-market petroleum to Caribbean nations in return for friendship. This past June, he signed a pact with 13 countries to supply them with oil at 60 percent of the market price, with the other 40 percent converted to a 25-year loan." Energy is a necessity not a luxury. America must realize that the more dependent we are especially on nations like Venezuela (our fourth largest foreign oil supplier) the more we assist rouge regimes whose purposes are directly contrary to American interests. Plus, there is always the perpetual threat that at any time Chavez might pull the plug on supplying America with Venezuelan oil. As the former Soviet Union can attest, military power is not enough. We must maintain our economic power as well. That begins with becoming self-sufficient in our energy needs while implementing our own global strategic positioning plan of action. Until next time. .. Brett A. Magbee, Vice President for Operations If you know others who would like to receive the OCPA FaxLine Report, please let us know by contacting us at: Oklahoma Councilof PublicAffairs,Inc., 1401 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 Tel: 405-602-1667 I Fax: 405-602-1238 I Website: www.ocpathink.org OCPA is a research and educational organization promoting public policies consistent with the principles of individual liberty, free enterprise and limited govemment. Contributions to OCPA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Nothing written in an OCPA FaxLine Report is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the membership of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Inc., or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the Oklahoma House or Senate, United States Congress, or any other government body.
