International Affairs: October 2011 Archives
America's economy isn't in great shape, but we'll own the 21st century because we're a lot stronger than anyone else. I'll quote the section about oil and gas, but there are several other major points in the article as well.
Telegraph readers already know about the "shale gas revolution" that has turned America into the world's number one producer of natural gas, ahead of Russia.Less known is that the technology of hydraulic fracturing - breaking rocks with jets of water - will also bring a quantum leap in shale oil supply, mostly from the Bakken fields in North Dakota, Eagle Ford in Texas, and other reserves across the Mid-West.
"The US was the single largest contributor to global oil supply growth last year, with a net 395,000 barrels per day (b/d)," said Francisco Blanch from Bank of America, comparing the Dakota fields to a new North Sea.
Total US shale output is "set to expand dramatically" as fresh sources come on stream, possibly reaching 5.5m b/d by mid-decade. This is a tenfold rise since 2009.
The US already meets 72pc of its own oil needs, up from around 50pc a decade ago.
"The implications of this shift are very large for geopolitics, energy security, historical military alliances and economic activity. As US reliance on the Middle East continues to drop, Europe is turning more dependent and will likely become more exposed to rent-seeking behaviour from oligopolistic players," said Mr Blanch.
Along this same line, I recommend "The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century"
Our foreign enemies have won another battle: Iraq bows to Iranian pressure and refuses to "allow" American military bases.
The US suffered a major diplomatic and military rebuff on Friday when Iraq finally rejected its pleas to maintain bases in the country beyond this year.Barack Obama announced at a White House press conference that all American troops will leave Iraq by the end of December, a decision forced by the final collapse of lengthy talks between the US and the Iraqi government on the issue.
The Iraqi decision is a boost to Iran, which has close ties with many members of the Iraqi government and which had been battling against the establishment of permanent American bases.
I put "allow" in quotes because the Iraqi government can't really do anything about the tens of thousands of American soldiers on the ground unless we agree to leave. Which we should not.
Obviously this move weakens America in the region and globally, strengths Iran and our other enemies, and makes us look like fools.
2012 can't come soon enough.
(HT: Gateway Pundit.)
