Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Thinking Circular Thoughts

So the Pentagon believes “surplus oil capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact.”

This little gem was found in a Joint Operating Environment Report issued by the US Joint Forces Command. And of course, we all know what this is. It is “an intellectual foundation upon which we will construct the concept to guide our future force developments.”

In other words, the Pentagon is prepared to burn more oil so it can use oil up so it will have a justification to invade even more countries to replace the oil they’ve burned up getting the oil they need to invade other countries. Or something like that. Of course, with the fully burdened cost of pumping a gallon of gas in Afghanistan averaging $400 a gallon, this could do wonders for our deficit.

While the Pentagon sends billions pouring out of its military tailpipes, the Chinese have discovered the pen is mightier than the sword, especially if the pen is signing contracts for future oil deliveries and joint ventures to develop future oil fields.

“Future fuel supplies are of acute importance to the US army because it is believed to be the biggest single user of petrol in the world.” Gosh, could it be that if we put down the sword and picked up the pen our army just might burn less fuel? It would be a hell of a lot cheaper and burn less fuel if we flew a trade delegation overseas to cut the best deal it could.

Perish the thought! The Pentagon doesn’t want oil, it doesn’t want victory and it sure as hell doesn’t want to spread democracy to the world. All it wants in a justification for its existence. And burning oil to justify fighting for more oil is all the justification it needs.

The report warns of the political upheaval that could accompany the economic a shortage of oil could bring. “One should not forget that the Great Depression spawned a number of totalitarian regimes that sought economic prosperity for their nations by ruthless conquest.”

Gosh! Does that sound like somebody we know?

4 comments:

SilentOtto said...

Welcome back to a readable format.

That copytext-paste-change color of text-read cycle was getting tiresome pdq.

Case Wagenvoord said...

Always glad to relieve the strain on your eyes.

Canis Ursa said...

My understanding is that the US navy burns more oil per annum than Norway. Imagine if we shut down all those aircraft carriers, cruisers, battlewagons and what-nots, not only would we be saving enegy, but promoting peace and saving tax payers money. Oh! thats right thats not what we are about. By the way, Belacqua should make a quest appearence once in a while. I need someone to relate to.

Case Wagenvoord said...

Canis,

I don't think Belacqua is well known enough to be on the Today Show, but thank you for the thought.