US military on the scent of oil

Now, under the “Bush Doctrine”, oil has become the catalyst for preventive war.

Why this is so obvious is from the vast quantities of petroleum the US economy consumes – 26% of global consumption by 5% of the globe’s population. Fourteen of the top 15 foreign sources of crude oil in the first two months of 2004 were countries with direct access to the US (Canada and Mexico) or access to the world’s oceans for direct transport. (The 15th, landlocked Chad, whose oil sector first came on line in late 2003, exports its oil through Cameroon.) Maintaining this immediate access keeps prices low without seriously impeding the profligate “easy rider” mentality of a significant portion of the public.

Asia Times