February 07, 2006

U.S. Oil Companies—Providing a Valuable Service—But Too Much in Bed with OPEC

I was very surprised at the panel event I posted about last week to hear panelists criticizing the U.S. oil companies. To me this kind of talk was of a piece with Liberal views blaming the U.S. oil industry for starting the war in Iraq.

It turns out the Conservative view is the reverse -- the U.S. oil industry is considered to be too much in bed with OPEC. And this report today appears to provide evidence to support that view:

Exxon: America will always rely on foreign oil

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The United States will always rely on foreign imports of oil to feed its energy needs and should stop trying to become energy independent, a top Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) executive said on Tuesday.

"Realistically, it is simply not feasible in any time period relevant to our discussion today," Exxon Mobil Senior Vice President Stuart McGill said, referring to what he called the "misperception" that the United States can achieve energy independence.

Here we see Exxon trying to defend its cash cow business and head off competitive forms of energy -- at a time when money spent on oil finances terrorist efforts to kill Westerners. I'm all for Exxon making a good business and helping us get gas. But for them to want us to be forever dependent for energy on the Islamofascists who want to kill us is self-serving, and shows that Exxon is indeed too much in bed with OPEC.

As I've noted recently, the U.S. has the ability to be energy independent, via gas from oil shale. 

Crushing Islamofascist Initiatives in Iran and Hamastan

In the Middle Ages, Muslims used to paint Mohammed all the time.  Since then there have been large numbers of paintings and depictions of Mohammed throughout the world (same link). The only reason they're rioting now is that:

• Israel gave Gaza away, convincing Islamofascists worldwide that violence against the West is winning, and this is the right time for them to threaten more of it.
• President Ahmadinejad of Iran is seeking nukes and threatening to destroy Israel, making Islamofascists worldwide think that this is the right time to make a move.

Crushing Islamofascist initiatives on both fronts would take much spirit out of the Islamofascist movement. Specifically:

• Prevent Iran from getting WMDs -- by military force if necessary.
• Continue to cut off funds from the free world to Hamastan.