Peak Oil: Why Iraq Is So Important
Posted on 06 June 2008 by Daniel Dessinger
It was commonly believed that George Bush instigated the War in Iraq to establish US control over Iraqi oil. While this isn't entirely accurate, it isn't entirely false, either. Before I can explain, let's briefly discuss peak oil.
According to LifeAftertheOilCrash,
Peak Oil is also called "Hubbert's Peak," named for the Shell geologist Dr. Marion King Hubbert. In 1956, Hubbert accurately predicted that US domestic oil production would peak in 1970. Source#1 Source #2 He also predicted global production would peak around the year 2000, which it would have had the politically created oil shocks of the 1970s not delayed it for about 5-10 years.
There is a finite amount of natural resources. Al Gore will tell you that. Oil won't last forever. Even the optimists are only promising 40-60 years remaining. Peak oil is when it oil production flows best. It is the period of prosperity before the economic plunge. Once over the hump, it's a downhill slope into a brave new world.
I'm not trying to scare anyone with this article. I hope it will wake some of us up. I was woken up recently to the reality and have been conducting research and strategizing ever since.
Here's what the optimists don't tell you: While production may continue for 30-60 years, the easy and cheap oil has all been found. Oil recovery will only become more difficult and expensive as we pursue the hard to reach or hard to filter oil resources remaining.
Add to that problem the reality that consumption increases exponentially each year. China alone will double the need for oil within the next 20 years.
What does that mean?
That means billions more resources are needed and production is on the decline. That means we as a planet will need more oil than we can produce to maintain life as we know it. That means demand exceeds supply. That means we cannot maintain life as we know it.
President Bush's advisors are aware of this. He knows that oil is limited. He's stockpiling it for our military as we speak. In the meantime, Iraq is one of those regions that could produce much more oil if only it were politically stable. With resources running out quickly, it's an absolutely necessary move to stabilize the Middle East.
Now, having said that, I realize that even stabilizing Iraq will only delay the inevitable oil crisis by a few years. But we all press on to live longer and survive longer despite all odds.
Technology has not developed at the rate needed to save the day. We are headed for an energy crisis. Life as you know it will not be the same in as few as 3 years or as many as 15 years. We won't have to completely run out of oil before our economy will crumble. All it takes is the 3-10% reduction in production each year as we slowly run out of oil, tripling or quadrupling the price of oil and fuel each year. Within a few short years, life will be different.
In this one aspect, Bush was acting on his best belief system and doing what he can to preserve our economy. Right or wrong, it was at least understandable. All of our lives will be different as oil goes away.
We are in an energy crisis, people. Burying your heads in the sand because you think you have 30-40 years left (without even confirming that statement) is unacceptable. And rather than focus on someone to blame for our consumption and lack of future natural resources, let's press beyond our comfort zones and conduct responsible research to learn how we can each best prepare as this energy crisis deepens.
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