13th
You know if the Bush administration had come clean about this from the beginning I might have been more supportive. I might not have agreed, but at least I would have understood. But these people did everything to hide the truth and furthermore it was clear from Cheneys Energy Task Force that Washington was going to cut up the oil pie to its friends. Basically it was a new version of the "TEAPOT DOME" scandle back in the 1920s. I am nobody's fool and when my government tries to treat me like a stupid mope that doesn't know how the world works, its a surefire way to set me off. When Bush 41 invaded Kuwait, one of the reasons he cited was thathe couldn't allow Saddam to control 33% of the world oil supply. I absolutely agreed, that's why I supported the Gulf War.
Wars over resources are going to become more frequent as world resources slowly dry up. The next Oil war could be either in Niger or in South America. And worse, countries like China are going to get involved too. That's a given. I think you know firsthand how ambitious the Chinese can be. The idea of countries battle each other or worse Global Corporation, (imagine a Exxon vs GasProm oilfield war). We shouldnt think this situation couldn't happen, it already did when trade corporations in the 16th century would battle each other over lucrative trade routes. There were even some rumors in the French Press a few years ago about some nefarious things going on in Africa concerning French oil companies and Halliburton back when Cheney was CEO. Not necessarily open warfare, but very dirty tricks, like contaminating oil wells, sabotaging equipment, bribing local officials, etc. I could easily see a scenario like that get out of hand, and that is far more scary than some religious nut in a cave.
The only way out of this is finding alternative energy source. I am sorry to say but we Americans have gotten lazy, we used to be brilliant but we have lost the clever inventiveness we used to have. If Reagan hadnt killed the first generation of electric cars we might not be in the situation we are in now. I will make a case of beer bet that there will be another oil war, somewhere within the next 20 years barring some new technological breakthrough. And until we go get that breakthrough all we are doing is keep relying on old technology (like Fossil Fuel) to save us. No civilization has ever survived by clinging on to the past.
For those of you who think terrorism is scary. Wait until you see Corporate/Economic Terrorism.