The rise of “the Axis of Oil”— big trouble for the U.S.

January 10, 2007

Richard Bell, Communications Director for Post Carbon Institute, reports on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ hearing into “The Geopolitics of Oil.”

Just how bad are the geopolitics of energy, from the perspective of the United States?

This morning the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources launched its New Year with an unusual hearing into “The Geopolitics of Oil.”

The consensus conclusion of the witnesses: the United States is in deep, deep trouble, facing the emergence of an “axis of oil” that threatens to recreate the bi-polar world of the Cold War, complete with Russia as a principal actor.

Normally the Committee deals with less weighty matters, like fuel efficiency standards for cars. But the incoming chairman, Senator Jeff Bingaman, decided to go for the big picture, and the big picture is not pretty. There was an almost palpable sense of graveness and alarm that lent a chill to the room.

For the rest of the report, go to original article [link] on Global Public Media (free access).


Tags: Energy Policy, Fossil Fuels, Oil, Politics, Transportation