Oil vis-a-vi : US foreign policy - a fair assesment
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In the run-up to the second Gulf war and presently in the wake of post war hostilities in Iraq, millions of people remain by and large convinced that it was a war fought for oil despite denials from Bush and Blair governments - two main architects of the event. In his book Addicted to Oil: America's relentless drive for energy security, energy economist Ian Rutledge argues that the invasion of Iraq was indeed for the oil, although not for the reasons usually attributed to this 'oil theory' by its opponents.
In a very provocative analysis, Rutledge explains in Addicted to Oil that the invasion of Iraq was not born out of a straight forward greed for oil reserves in a region of vital importance but had more to do with a perverse necessity arising out of motorised America's heavy dependence on oil. It was an attempt to establish a pliant and dependable oil protectorate in
the Middle East which would underwrite the soaring demand from America's hyper-motorised consumers.
No one argues that motorways made America but the ever growing number of vehicles that plied on them would come to drive US foreign policy down the years and as we know it under present vitiated climate of international relations claims the author. To substantiate his claims, Rutledge takes us back to the early half of the 20th century and traces the origins of America's addiction to Oil. It was the period when America chose to motorise its cities - a decision which was hugely influenced by large automobile and oil companies. Consequently, by the mid 1960s, the core of the US economy was vehicle manufacturing and oil refining, with a growing dependence on oil imports from the Middle East.
Rutledge explains how America's relations with the Middle East were developed and ultimately soured through its quest for energy security. America's motorisation and its consequent demand for oil at predictable market prices was and continues to be an important influence on US policy towards Iraq - especially given the uncertainties relating to what has so far been the securest source of Middle East oil - Saudi Arabia.
The author explains the political, economic and social ramifications of the motorisation of the US economy which compel its political leaders to secure resources of black gold. In chapter five, he goes one step further labelling President George W Bush, Dick Cheney and Condoleeza Rice as the 'Axis of Oil' - three individuals, 'most intimately connected' with US Oil and Energy interests and the commercial objectives of its large companies.
In the latter half of his book, Rutledge assesses the extent to which motorisation permeates almost every aspect of contemporary US society - a society where alternative options to motorisation were deliberately constricted by vested interests in American political and corporate circles. Addicted to Oil is the first book to undertake an in-depth analysis of the motorisation of US society which explicitly links it to America's foreign policy adventures; both past and present.
One cannot ignore the force Ian Rutledge's arguments; whether you agree or disagree. His book is a must-read for an understanding of America's international political priorities and its troubled relations with the Middle East. In the corridors of power on both sides of the pond, Rutledge's analysis is likely to constitute uncomfortable reading but for the rest of us, it is a telling account of what literally 'drives' America and its foreign policy.
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the silent power behind governments,stockmarkets, politics
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This book describes how the oil industry grew from small beginings to becoming a global must-have resource. It shows how companies governments and politicians encouraged the growth of the industry to the point of which it's power is now causing friction throughout the globe. This book describes the companies at the heart of this growth and the deals that turned oil into a must have resource. Also describes where all this money ends up and who are the major players, names that inter-twine business and politics, and mentions some names that you would'nt think are associated with the oil business. The book dicusses the future of oil and whether theere is enough for our future needs,which area's are likely to become oil powers and the effects to the world economy and the political fallout. A concise and fact packed book which is highly interesting to read , we all spend thousands of pounds a year on oil and this book brings out the reality of what effect this has on business,governments,politicians and normal people.
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