Yesterday the Senate voted to authorize oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Republicans have been pushing for years to open a small swath of ANWR for drilling, arguing it will lessen our dependence on foreign oil. So how much oil can be found in ANWR? The answer to that question depends on what side you are on. To the GOP and drilling proponents, ANWR will serve as a major step toward reducing energy dependence. According to some estimates from the 1980s, ANWR could contain 17 billion barrels of oil and 34 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. According to Democrats and drilling opponents the amount of oil to be found in ANWR is miniscule. Critics further contend that drilling in ANWR is a stunt that will have little impact on gas prices or foreign oil dependence. It is estimated that without ANWR oil, foreign oil will account for 68% of oil use, with ANWR 64%, in 2025. Is anyone else struck by the fact that this country will still be dependent on the gas powered internal combustion engine in 2025? How sad is that? We aren’t opposed to drilling in ANWR, in fact quite the opposite, but we are inclined to agree with the Democratic opposition that drilling is tantamount to a drop in the bucket, even by the most liberal estimates. Unfortunately, Democratic critics can do only that: criticize. As usual they fail to offer any real alternatives to America’s energy crisis. And that’s exactly what it is…a crisis. Republicans are no better, they are best likened to a one trick pony or a singer with only one tune. The best the GOP can do is propose more drilling (in Alaska or in the Gulf). This isn’t leadership and further demonstrates the blindness and unimaginative thinking that dominates both parties. Early versions of the internal combustion engine were developed in 17th century China and today’s gas-fired internal combustion engine bares little difference from the versions that emerged in the late 1850s. If this country remains, remains dependent on such out dated technology a generation from now, then we have truly declined as a nation and as a people. We have known for years that dependence on foreign oil is volatile at best, yet we have failed to encourage the development of alternative power systems or engine designs.

For some time now, ThePhalanx.com has called for a consistent, diverse and balanced energy policy. Such a policy would weigh the immediate need for greater oil production with the long-term need for greater efficiency. Up until now, the US has pursued neither a long term or short term energy policy; indeed, our energy policy is non-existent and consists mostly of political bellyaching from both sides of the aisle with only piecemeal solutions, if that. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have failed in this regard. It is in our best interest to produce more oil, as it will free the nation from a volatile source of energy, while depriving our enemies of a revenue stream that can be used to finance more terrorist and jihadist endeavors. But this is only a short-term solution. Not only should we encourage the development of more fuel efficient vehicles but we should encourage the development of petroleum alternatives. By pursuing alternatives and greater technological efficiency we also improve our environment. For this very reason both hard-line environmentalist and those interested in protecting our country’s national security should be working diligently to bring about real change. How do we do this? Do we compel industry? Not exactly. We provide incentives. Incentives for producers and incentives for consumers. Such incentives could entail considerable tax breaks to innovate, while giving citizens incentives to buy. We give opportunities for rivals to compete, driving down production costs. Inevitably, as gas prices continue to soar, as the threat of inflation looms, and as oil producing tyrants in the Middle East and Latin America become more emboldened, the powers that be will have to listen.

This administration and every previous administration since Carter have been sorely lacking. US officials, in an apparent collective memory lapse, fail to grasp the real threat energy dependence holds for the United States. While new energy sources become increasingly difficult to identify. The country fails simply refuses to take any steps to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and the anti-American dictatorships these oil revenues support. Even the supposed environmentally conscious Democrats, have failed to capitalize on this significant threat to national security. 60 years ago the Nazis developed an extensive program to produce synthetic liquid fuels (known as hydrogenation) to power their war machine. Today America faces a threat no less dangerous than the Nazi thugs of WWII, yet we have developed no comparable solution to the looming energy catastrophe we face. America has abundant natural resources and technical sophistication to deal with this crisis. Today alternative energy sources can be derived from hydrogen, ethanol, natural gas, coal hydrogenation, fuel cells, and so on. This country’s leaders, however, continue to lack the foresight to prepare us for our inevitable futures, while our enemies fatten their wallets for the equally inevitable jihad.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/03/D8DL6FO86.html