Strategic energy 101809

Energy was a strategic resource long before there were states to fight over energy sources. Troglodytes (TROG-LO-DITES) had their fire keepers whose job it was to gather the fuel to keep the cave fire burning. Fire keepers were innovative energy managers when twigs around the cave became scarce they experimented with dinosaur chips. As men ahead of their time they saw the coming oil boom left by the dinosaur age.

Jumping a head a few thousand years America became center of energy supply, not yet the black gold but whale oil. New Englanders in the process of getting rich in whale oil almost extinguished the species, but whaling ships led to Yankee Clippers and American mercantilism. Control of energy sources leads to growth as demonstrated by American discovery of that black gold. Cheap oil fueled industrial growth, automobiles, planes and energy addiction. Over indulgence led to global warming, a dimming future and a search for another Trog ahead of his time who can see new sources of energy.

After 9-11 the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld (all Texas oilmen) administration quietly established an “energy security initiative.” Little was heard about this in America, but in essence the initiative stated that the U.S. had the right to seize oil production anywhere in the world to insure a steady flow of oil. This was a bombshell in oil producing regions most of which were friendly to America. The reaction was such that the administration backed away for the document but not the idea. (NOTE: energy security initiative has taken on new meanings today, not to be confused with the previous interpretation.)

The administration attempted to land a combat force to “secure” Nigerian oil field, only to meet with threats military resistance. To gain control of oil in the Gulf of Nigeria a coup/counter coup was supported in the Sao Tome Island group. A U.S. naval base was promised to Sao Tome for the protection of their claim to off shore oil. Morocco had illegally occupied its neighbor, Western Sahara. Morocco’s move was condemned by the entire international community, which refused to recognize the legitimacy of Morocco’s claim to the country. Under the initiative the Bush administration made a deal with Morocco to exploit Western Sahara’s oil resources. This in effect legitimized Morocco’s control of the country. Then there is Sudan with more proven oil reserves than Saudi Arabia. Unable to establish forces in that warring country American contingents are now established in surrounding countries.

Energy continues to be the center of national security strategy. However that focus is almost exclusively on oil, from the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan to the aborted attempts to control of Iran’s oil fields and those of the Central Asian States.

While the world waits for a new Trog with the perfect energy source, nations must coordinate advancements of existing technologies. At the same time seeking cleaner energy they must exercise a strategic vision that reverses global warming and prevent the excesses of the past. Is there hope for the individual, of course, just invest in the energy giants of today for they will corral the energy of tomorrow.

From a lecture