Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Confused about US/UK policy in Middle East? Follow the net energy

If you try to follow all the alliances it gets complicated. Follow the net energy. High net energy means fuel that is easy to extract. The last big reservoir of high net-energy oil is in Iraq near Kirkuk. As cheap oil declines, gas becomes more valuable. The Caspian region has a big reservoir of high net-energy gas.

All the great powers are competing over control of energy sources and transport routes. The higher the net energy, the more intense the fighting. Whoever controls energy, controls the world economy.

The US is especially vulnerable because it is the most car-dependent. It uses force more because it has put all it eggs in the military basket.

cartoon by https://twitter.com/davpope