THE OIL WARS
I THINK THE PRESENT WAR ON TERROR MAY LIKELY BE CALLED THE OIL WARS BY FUTURE HISTORIANS, JUST AS THE ERA OF CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE US AND RUSSIA IN THE LAST CENTURY CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE COLD WAR. THE PERIOD CAN BE TRACED FROM THE 1990 IRAQI INVASION OF KUWAIT AND CONTINOUING TO THE PRESENT DAY.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A DEROGATORY STATEMENT, BUT ONE OF SIMPLE FACT. ANYONE WHO THINKS MIDEAST OIL IS NOT VITAL TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE WEST IS INCREDIBLY NAIVE AND LIVING IN LA-LA LAND. THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT THE COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF OIL IMPORTS WOULD MEAN TO EVERDAY LIFE IN AMERICA, EUROPE, JAPAN, AND INCREASINGLY CHINA. BESIDES THE CASUAL USE OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK, WHAT OF THE TRUCKS WHICH BRING THE DAILY SUPPLIES OF FRESH GROCERIES TO OUR CITIES? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW WHO GROWS THEIR OWN PRODUCE ANYMORE, OR RAISES MEAT FOR THEIR FAMILIES? OIL ALSO SUPPLIES MUCH HEAT AND ELECTRICITY FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT WOULD NOT BE THE POLITICIANS WHO WOULD SUFFER IN A MAJOR OIL EMBARGO, BUT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN. THINK ABOUT THAT NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OIL WARS.