Opinion

Iraq is a battle for prosperity

Opinion Columnist

I donit know how many times in recent months Iive heard liberals, peaceniks, and other anti-war advocates say that the upcoming war with Iraq, if it happens, will be about nothing more than protecting George Bushis vested interest in "Big Oil."

While I would disagree, and say that there are several reasons weire fighting this war, like obvious instances of material breach -- think chemical warheads -- and continued hostility towards the UN -- think Iraq shooting at planes patrolling the No-Fly Zones -- among others, Iill certainly concede that part of the war is about oil.

Iim a petroleum engineer, and as such am being trained to drill for oil in hard-to-find and hard-to-reach places like the Gulf of Mexico or Alaskais North Slope. If I wanted the easy way out, I could request a transfer to the Middle East, where one can practically hammer a nail into the ground and get oil. Thereis a lot of oil over there, and itis easy to get to, and thatis why the United States and other nations in the world prefer to rely on Arab oil, so long as itis cheap and the means of retrieval are safe.

In recent years, anti-Americanism in the region, along with the emergence of hostile states like Iraq and Iran, has made Arab oil a little less desirable and encouraged American policy makers to seek alternative sources like Russia and Alaskais National Wildlife Reserve. However, the chance to establish a more stable Iraqi state does enable us to possibly tap a new source of oil.

Consider the fact that under Saddamis rule, and in accordance with UN sanctions, Iraq is only allowed to pump two million barrels of oil into the world market. Operating at full capacity, however, Iraq could conceivably pump eight million barrels a day. 

Now, of course OPEC will get its mitts on Iraq after weire finished and adjust the production accordingly to keep the price of oil within that $22-$28 per barrel range. But having a reliable, friendly source of crude oil in the Middle East would certainly add to economic stability in the oil market, and hence elsewhere.

I like to laugh at people who think we can ignore the Middle East, and make up the difference in oil by simple conservative measures. And, of course, thereis solar and wind power to supplement our energy needs.

Anyone who dreams of a society where oil and natural gas are not at the center of our energy needs better not hold their breaths, because most scholars agree weive got about another 50-80 years left in the petroleum age.

The United States gets roughly 72% of its overall energy from oil and natural gas. That amounts to more than 30 million barrels of oil a day just in the United States. By 2020, Americans will derive 82% of their energy from oil and natural gas, according to recent Dept. of Energy estimates. For all the oil we consume, we only produce about 7 million barrels per day. The rest of it has got to come from somewhere. 

Given the fact that the rest of our energy sources (coal, nuclear, solar, and wind) could not possibly make up for a shortfall in oil, it is in our national interest to preserve and encourage friendly states overseas which can supply us with oil. Or, you can try to live through a summer in Houston without air conditioning, because where do you think all our power comes from? Oil.

So of course the war with Iraq has to do with oil. Thatis not what itis all about, but anyone who drives around in an SUV, drinks cold beer or talks on a cell phone has a vested interest in making certain the United States has a secure source of inexpensive, efficient energy to make certain American life doesnit slow to a crawl. 

I confess, Iim all for conservation. Even at the expense of my own job, nothing would make me happier than to see all that oil under Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, for want of a buyer, become totally worthless. I somehow doubt the anti-American regimes and people over there would be able to sell the regionis other plentiful resource: sand.

Caster, a senior petroleum engineering major, can be reached at patrioticcatmaster@yahoo.com