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.