Obama:
ENERGY SECURITY = NATIONAL SECURITY
Ml
A s E llE I. 1*1 Ml* PRICES
C O N T IN U E I'll RISE, AND
TERRORISTS THREA TEN
on si ppi . ies . Sen. Barack
Obama is joining die chorus
of diosc calling lor a more
energy independent nation.
In fact, in remarks at
the National Governor's
Association's annual winter
meeting, Ohama (D-Ill.)
said the United States
should appoint a direc
tor of energy security to
oversee efforts to decrease
the country's reliance on
foreign oil. Such a director
would advise the National
Security Council and have
audiority to coordinate
U.S. energy policy across
all levels of government.
“W hy can’t we make
energy security one of our
great American projects of
the 21st century?" Ohama
asketl in his speech.
“In this year’s State
of the Union address.
President Bush told us that
it was ‘time to get serious
about' America's addiction
to foreign oil," he said.
¿lie next day, we found
hat his idea didn't sit
totRfcli.with the Saudi
cord and lifeline of the
crusader community.’
These are the words of A1
Qaeda," Obama said, add
ing that oil fuels 96 percent
of this nation's transporta
tion needs. Because the
United States has only 3
percent of the world's oil
reserves, the country can
not produce its way out.
A host of legislators also
called on President Bush to
support bipartisan legislation
to increase America's energy
independence. I^st fall, they
introduced the Vehicle and
Fuel Choices for American
Security Act, which would
mandate 2.5 million barrels
in oil savings in 10 years
and would encourage the
mass-production of hybrid
vehicles or those that can
bum any combo of gas and
alternative fuels.
In addition to reducing
the amount of oil used in
America, the legislators
encourage the construction
of more gas station alter
native fuel pumps; seek
first-time fuel-efficiency
standards for trucks; want
standards to ensure fuel-
efficient replacement tires
for cars and trucks, and
call for* tax credits for man
ufacturerslo retool facilities
for .id v an cco U H B
A recent sur
that U.S. residents!
energy security shodl
the top priority of U.S?
energy policy, voicing sup
port for an effort to
develop a hydrogen
royal family. A few hours
later. Energy Secretary
(Samuel) Bodnian back
tracked and assured the
world that even though the
president said he planned
to reduce die amount of oil
we import from the Middle
East, he actually did not
mean that literally.
“If there’s a single exam
ple out there that encapsu
lates the ability of unstable,
undemocratic governments
to wield undue influence
over America's national
security just because of our
dependence on oil, dus is it."
Citing studies, Obama
said petroleum <lc|«ndcnce
is costing U.S. jobs, increas
ing pump prices and deci
mating the auto industries. ' ‘ I
Conversely, he said switch
ing to an alteniative-fliel
ecqnomy could create mil
lions of new jobs. In addi
tion, by 2025 the country
can reduce its dependence by
75 million barrels per day.
Obama said lie's also
supporting le g is la tio n th a t
would make sure every new
U.S. car is a flexible fuel
vehicle widiin a decade.
“ ‘Oil is the umbilical
10 > AFRICAN A M ERICA NS
N
WHEEL
i.COM
economy. Released last
summer by Elizabeth
Lowery, General Motors
Corp, vice president
for environment and
energy, at a meeting of the
Washington Automotive
Press Association, the sur
vey found that Americans
believe Japanese automak
ers have done more to meet
that challenge than have
domestic manufacturers.
W hen asked what the
most important goal of U.S.
energy policy should be,
43 percent said “reducing
dependence on foreign oil.”
Some 20 percent said the
focus should be “improving
the fuel efficiency of vehi
des,” while 19 percent said
die United States should
concentrate on “reducing
pollution and harmful emis
sions.” Another 15 percent
said the nation’s policy
should first aim to “keep
fuel costs low.” W hen asked
the main reason why auto
makers need to develop
alternative technologies, 49
percent cited the need for
“energy independence."
Said Tommy Victor,
Obama's deputy press
secretary: "Actually,
energy independence is
something the senator has
been speaking out about
pretty much since he got
to Washington. H e’s talked
about the need to lessen
our dependence on foreign
oil. anti oil in eneral.
O ur energy sccur itv is our
ii.iliiin .il set in ilv .” I
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