“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” (Sir Walter Scott)
Americans are outraged of late, and justifiably so. Oil prices have skyrocketed to what some $135 per barrel, and may peak at 150-170 in the next three months?[1] How ridiculous. This more than the fact over 4,000 of our troops have lost their lives in Iraq, has created a sense of disgust and outrage. After all, it is true that our initial reasons for going after Saddam was to find a link to Bin Laden. Spreading democracy was also a close second on the agenda, followed by the need to preserve the second largest oil reserve in the world from remaining in the hands of a madman hell bent on blackmailing the country and holding butts over a fire for the world to see.
This has caused many experts and political animals alike to begin to question present day distorted ‘standitalone’ policy on nuclear energy, as suggest a need to reconsider present what seems like wacko and idealistic environmentalist. American has lots of oil underground in places such as the artic that we need to go after.[2] This would send a strong message to those rag heads in the Middle East that we mean business and refuse to remain dependent on their black gold. The issue it seems has transcended politics and must be viewed as an economic one. High prices are affecting the US as it must compete in a global economy. Others are not scared to invest in the exploration of new resources while American suffers by strict adherence to rigid policies and standards.[3]
Should moral leadership remain over national needs? The bigger question is , if America is feeling such a pinch, what about emerging and poorer states as China, India, Brazil , Cuba, Venezuela, or even North Korea and Iran. The Chinese and Indians are busy developing partnerships with countries such as South Americans and African despots and others to satisfy their particular energy needs, while Brazil has experimented for years with alternative energy in the form of sugar cane. You might recall that the fundamental reasons put forward by both North Korea and Iran for decades is the need for nuclear technology pursuit to fulfill dire energy needs. No wonder Al Gore has remained so silent in these moments of crisis, as if to say I told you? Our friends the Saudis are also out of ideas it seems. [4]The energy debate will forever remain one of the ever remaining paradoxes of this century and promises to continue to plague the US for time to come .It remains an issue as its leaders seek to address questions of energy, security, power, environment and global leadership in the context of internationally subscribed and binding laws. For the man on the street that will soon be paying ten dollars per gallon such matters means nothing. Just offer some relief soon he begs. Oh what a deceit I say, to no one in particular.
[4] ccny.cuny.edu/ neal noray/ thesis /NPT and the national interest
