Blood for Oil

Thousands are being killed due to the imperialist policies of Russia. For lands far away with cultures not our own it is easy to rationalize away the seriousness of the conflict. It is an uncalled for human rights violation of the highest magnitude and cannot be tolerated. Action must be taken in swift and powerful fashion, including sending troops to Georgia.

Out of the confusion of who is to blame for starting the hostilities, one thing is becoming clear about Russia's invasion of Georgia, that it is about oil. The control of Caspian Sea oil, Europe's only lifeline not previously under Russia's control. Beyond the cold war tactics of beefing up Poland and the Ukraine, which we absolutely should do. Other options include the liberation of Cuba, ousting of Chavez, friend to Iran, and incursions into Iran, with its growing alliance with Russia, against forces supporting the insurgency in Iraq. Cold War tactics worked in the past.

The empty avenue of diplomacy may be attractive to those who fear conflict, consider the United States the problem or believe the American people wont support further military conflict, but there is another action we can take that is not confrontational. To drill like there is no tomorrow. (Obama will give us alternative energy sources if elected)

The continental shelves, ANWR and helping South America to develop new found massive reserves would plummet the price of oil, oil that Russia is using to fund it's new found tyranny. It would give us energy independence, at least for the hemisphere, reduce our own energy costs and open new supplies for the European market.

All this together takes away what Russia considers its prize. The pipeline in contention will hold greatly reduced value, their goals to reoccupy Eastern Europe thwarted and their government will be embarrassed in front of their own people. If we are absolute in our determination to stand against tyranny we may lose some provinces in Georgia and a pipeline but could guarantee the freedom of Eastern Europe and make advances for freedom in our own hemisphere. It could also spur political change in Russia itself. In many ways this is a great opportunity if our leaders have the moral fortitude and will to take advantage of it. To take the path of weakness will lead to the re-enslavement of Eastern Europe and further conflict if not outright war. That's just plain history.

You would think the Left would be all for my drilling logic. It would give them an altruistic reason to change their losing policy of no new drilling and take away a winning issue from the Republicans in the next election. They could claim new and productive approaches to resolving conflict without violence. Of course the Left and reason have little in common.