In 1973, OPEC embargoed the U.S. because of its support of Israel in the 6-day war. Now, it looks like they are punishing us for removing Saddam Hussein. The reasons don’t matter, because the effect is the same. While there is no embargo directed specifically at the US, the restricted OPEC production is achieving the same increase in prices, only without the long gas lines. 

Of course, higher fuel prices drive prices up on all other goods in which transportation costs are a significant contributor (e.g. food, clothing, office supplies, etc.) While the government has seen fit to omit fuel prices from the consumer price index, the multiplier effect of rising energy prices is finally spilling over into all other facets of the economy. 

The only question that remains is, what we shall do this time?

The wage-price spiral and ensuing unemployment that resulted in the stagflation of the 1970’s cannot be far behind. The misery index sited by Democratic Candidate Jimmy Carter, in 1976 was only 13%. By the 1980 election, it had risen to 21% (7.5% unemployment plus 13% inflation). 

Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volcker, prescribed bitter medicine to break the cycle, driving the Prime Interest rate up to 20%. The economy came to a complete stand still. President Reagan’s tax cuts did not begin to take effect in stimulating the economy until 1983.  If Jimmy Carter had been reelected, would the economy have ever recovered? Jimmy Carter once argued that the energy crisis was the “moral equivalent of war,” drawing upon William James’ call for National conscription of America’s youth to service. However, we find ourselves today in a genuine war against an enemy financed by our own oil purchases. Only in today’s post-modern insanity could we find ourselves paying for our own destruction.

This madness has to stop.

Drill here, Drill now, pay less is entirely inadequate to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It is not enough simply to supply our own needs for petroleum. Our allies need energy, as well. Perhaps, if we had engaged in a strategy that not only supplied us with sufficient oil, but also guaranteed our allies access, they would not have found it necessary to engage in the “Palaces for Oil” campaign with Saddam and now with Iran.

We must not only make all of western civilization energy self-sufficient, we must completely crush OPEC.

OPEC has used its power to not only enrich themselves, but also finance the greatest threat to western civilization since WWII. We cannot allow Iran to complete development of its nuclear weapons. We cannot allow North Korea or Pakistan to continue to spread their knowledge of manufacturing nuclear weapons to nations such as Syria or even Saudi Arabia.

The United States and its allies must financially destroy OPEC and forever disband it from reforming. World Peace, or at least Freedom from Islamic Terrorism, is at stake.

First, we must cut loose from the bonds of our own making when it comes to petroleum production and refining, then we must embark on a mission of complete and total energy independence for our allies and us. 

Whatever it takes!

We must then prepare to seize all financial assets of the OPEC nations and blockade their ports, if necessary, in order to force their dissolution.

Teddy Roosevelt would have never stood for foreign nations seizing our plants and equipment and using them against us, as we have let the various nations of OPEC, including Mexico and Venezuela, do to us.

Wars are won not only on the battlefield, but also in cutting off the supply lines supporting the troops engaged in fighting. It is time that we cut the cash flow financing Islamic Terror. Our attempts at focused response in Afghanistan and Iraq have failed to curtail Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and the rest. It is time that we change our strategic objective and accept the fact that the war on terror will only

end when the only thing that they have left to fight with are sticks and stones.

While John McCain may not have come to this conclusion, yet, Barack Obama will NEVER reach it. The “moral equivalent of war” has been replaced by the real thing. Therefore, we need a commander in chief, not an appeaser in chief. The choice may be painful for some, but we have no other realistic option. We must elect John McCain President of the United States, not Barack Obama. Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!

So retrieve your mood ring and pet rock from inside the pyramid and boogie on down to the nearest discotheque. (My 8-track is on the fritz!)