Newsweek: More Wars
A former CIA director and a former senator argue that Americaâs current energy policy is a recipe for a less safe world.
Give them time, and fossil fuels will likely wreak havoc on the planetâs climate. But before that happens, the global oil trade will have a more immediate impact, likely making America more dependent on foreign dictators and autocratic regimes, and systematically reducing the U.S.âs foreign-policy options. The effect, say a growing number of foreign-policy veterans, could be a more fragmented world, one thatâs much less safe as a result. Former senator Gary Hart and former CIA director James Woolsey launched a speaking tour this month to underscore the connection between energy dependence and global security. Both spoke with NEWSWEEKâs Daniel Stone about the growing threat, and why domestic development isnât the answer. Excerpts:
How would you characterize the link between energy policy and national security?
Gary Hart: I would encourage your readers to check out a Web site called CNA.org… These are retired senior officers in the military who draw a direct connection between changing climate and a threat to our international security. Another Web site for a whole lot of information is climateandnationalsecurity.com. There you will find all kinds of resources documenting the connection between our national security and a changing climate.
So whatâs the key problem?
James Woolsey: The heart of the matter is oil. Coal is a problem from the point of CO2 emissions and pollution. But oil is a problem for those reasons and for reasons of national security, in that our billion dollars a day that we borrow to import oil finances institutions like the Saudi Wahhabi schools around the world that teach little boys murderous hatreds of Shiite Muslims, Jews, homosexuals, and apostates. Not to mention [hatred of] Americans, and the terrible oppression of women. And it helps fund murderous dictators around the world. Weâre paying for that, and itâs nonsense. We need to stop using oil, not just imported oil but oil, period, in order to move away from that kind thing.
How, specifically, does that limit our foreign-policy options?
Woolsey: Look, I donât think President Obama would have bowed to the ruler of Saudi Arabia if he didnât have oil to the degree that the Saudis do. I think they and other producing states, almost all of whom, except Norway and Canada, are dictatorships or autocratic systems, have thrown their weight around because of oil. That creates national-security problems here.
Hart: And itâs not just the current president. The U.S. has been bowing to the Saudis for decades now. We overlook their autocratic and undemocratic governments even though weâre preaching democracy around the world. This isnât lost on the people of the world; they understand whatâs going on. America preaches democracy and yet supports autocratic regimes that are very undemocratic because we want or need their oil.
Click here to read the entire interview in Newsweek.
