It's our belief in independence stupid!

Victor David Hanson made some excellent points regarding the links between our dependence on oil and a list of serious problems in the Middle East that are exacerbated by such dependence (It’s the oil Stupid, 4-14-07)

Unfortunately, Mr. Hanson is way off the mark when he states, “If the U.S. could curb its voracious foreign oil purchases … the world price might return to below $40 a barrel.” A “decline” in US oil demand wouldn’t “dry up the oil profits of those in the Middle East” because of the increasing demand of all the other oil dependent nations like China, India and Russia as well as the nations within the EU.

Hanson is correct in saying “Its’ the oil, stupid” and he should be commended for advocating we adopt all the practical and affordable means that are possible for weaning ourselves from oil dependence. Hanson is simply mistaken however, in thinking that that by doing so our security would then be independent from the practices and problems of other nations, even our allies.

There are any number of threats we face that will still require global enforceable standards in other arenas such as health, environment, banking, technology controls and human rights protections.

But, Yes! Let’s get off oil and lead by example instead of arrogance.

Fiscal irresponbility greater threat than Bin Laden.

Nearly 6 months before 9-11 The Hart Ruddman Commission (Bipartisan presidential commission looking at national security threats in the 21^st century) reported that ‘American should prepare to die in large numbers on American soil’. They also suggested we create a Department of Homeland Defense which was also ignored for months after 9-11.

One of the most surprising findings of the commission’s first report was its belief that ‘economic instability’ was the second greatest threat to US security behind terrorism.

Now the U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, head of the Government Accounting office (the investigative arm of the US Congress) says "The most serious threat to the United States is not someone hiding in a cave in Afghanistan or Pakistan…but our own fiscal irresponsibility." Recently featured on CBS “60 minutes” produced by Andy Court this interview is a must see! Walker believes nothing less than the survival of our republic is at stake and predicts "catastrophic consequences" for our nation if we don't do something now.

To watch the 11 minute segment go to:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2534935n

I wonder if Mr. Walker realizes that one of Bin Laden’s primary goals was to break the US economically. He must be thrilled to know that he has powerful allies in bankrupting the US. The costs of Bush’s war in Iraq, our failure to invest in real prevention efforts related to health, education, and environmental protection…only hasten the day.