U.S. military brass wage political battle for biofuels
A coalition of retired U.S. military officers defended the Pentagon's plans to boost the use of more expensive biofuels, telling senators and their staff on Thursday that reduced dependence on oil from the Middle East would ultimately reduce costs and improve national security.
The U.S. veterans were fighting efforts by some Republicans to stop the purchase of expensive biofuels and spending on biofuel refineries at a time when defense budgets face massive cuts.
"A small investment in biofuels could reap trillions of dollars for the country at large," said Dan Nolan, a retired Army colonel, at a Capitol Hill briefing on Thursday organized by the Truman National Security Project, a left-leaning advocacy group on military, energy and foreign policy issues.
"What the Navy has invested in biofuels is such a small percentage of what the total investment in fuel is," Nolan said.
The Pentagon is the single largest buyer of oil in the world.
But...but...all the Top Brass need to do is point out that it would be "patriotic" for people to drive less-thirsty cars (as per CAFE(?) ) so that the USA doesn't have to import any oil at all! And, in case they worry that this'd put them all out of a job, what with no more need to mess about in the ME, no it will not! Military types are very useful to have around when natural disasters happen. Or indeed, if the firefighters go on strike...
Increased purchases of biofuels will lead to less food maize being grown, which will put the price of food up worldwide and especially in Mexico, which virtually lives of maize, and the third world. this will lead to increased strife and more illegal immigration into the US which will put US defence expenditure up even more. Or is this what they want?
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
