I think America's thirst for oil had something to do with the war in Iraq.
America is looking out for its national interest.
It wants to ensure the leaders of oil-rich countries are friendly with Washington.
I make the connection between oil demand and the War.
I feel better now that I am getting 60 MPG.
I feel I am less responsible for the War than the SUV drivers.
Need fewer troops to support.
Drive a hybrid.
Best tank 71.65 MPG.
Before this car I spent two years learning hypermiling on my 2004 HCH1.
I agree on the good feeling I get by using less gas with my HCH. No doubt. And as far as the SUV users "being at fault" for the WAR, well, that's just silly - they are VICTIMS of the dependence, like all of us are. I have had two SUVs over the past few years, and it was because I had a wife and five kids to carry around. I had no choice. Now I only have myself and two small kids, so I can drive a Hybrid happily.
If anyone is "to blame" for our dependence on foreign oil, it's the US government policies from Jimmy Carter forward to now. Just think if we had IMMEDIATELY put money and development SERIOUSLY into Hybrids back during the gas crisis of the early 70's? Where would the technology be today? 200 MPG? But then who helps initiate government research programs? WE, the people who vote. So it's all back on us. If there had been a citizen initiative to reduce foreign oil dependency that was supported by even 20% of the US citizenry, it would have carried a lot of weight.
Well, it would SEEM that if we had wanted Iraq's oil, we would already be taking it, no? So far there have been no reports (and you know how the liberal media loves to trash this administration) of any "oil taking" in Iraq. You KNOW they are just WAITING for some ammo on that point to hammer Bush and Cheney, the OIL MEN.
Common sense and decency both say that no president, no VP, no Generals, no advisors, would EVER go to war, meaning putting American soldiers at risk, for the sake of oil.
We DID want to stabilize the region, which IS where we get most of our oil. But not to the extent of GOING TO WAR for the oil. Don't forget about how LOONEY TUNES saddam hussein was and is - do you think for one second that if he ever got his hands on a nuke that he would not willingly share it with terrorists who had a goal of injuring the USA? ( Remember: he is an Arab who hates the Jews and thus hates Israel and it's main supporter, the USA. )
So, War simply for Oil? It would be insane. War to "help" stabilize the region and take out a future risk? Absolutely.
Actually, we DID try to get Hybrids up and going in the 1970s. Read on....Copied from MSN Autos new story, not used by permission:
"Another flurry of activity occurred in the mid 1970s and into the '80s, prompted by he oil crises of 1973 and 1979. The Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development & Demonstration Act of 1976 not only brought government and industry research engineers together, (a good thing as it turned out ), it also brought federal funding. A number of hybrid vehicles—not all of them gasoline-electric—were built and tested. Significant engineering occurred during 1978 and 1984, and in fact, engineering work by TRW Inc. has carried over into today's hybrids and can be found in the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.
It's not surprising that this hullabaloo sparked good 'ol American entrepreneurial spirit. Small companies, often founded by electric car aficionados, were touting gas-electric hybrids like the Hummingbird II based on the Volkswagen Rabbit and the Hybricon Centaur, which was a converted Honda 600 sedan. Perhaps the strangest vehicle from this time period was the 1980 Briggs & Stratton hybrid. Yes, the lawn mower engine company used one of their gasoline two cylinder, four stroke engines and an electric motor to power a custom designed two-door fastback body with six wheels—two in front, four aft.
Hybrids Around the Globe
Hybrid activity was not an American exclusive, however. The oil embargoes affected all major world economies, plus, smog pollution was already a major problem in large cities. In Germany, Volkswagen responded with a hybrid Microbus taxi with a system very similar to those used in today's offerings. In Japan, most engineering development focused on electrics, but Toyota built a prototype gasoline turbine engined hybrid, and Mazda produced a diesel engine hybrid truck called the Titan.
Gasoline-electric hybrid development has revolved around electric vehicles from the beginning. But no single event has had more affect on the advancement of electrics, and thus hybrids, than a mandate in 1990 issued by the state of California. The state adopted rules requiring car companies to sell "zero emission vehicles" (ZEVs)—two percent beginning in 1998, five percent by 2001, and 10 percent by 2003—or pull out of the state. ZEV meant only one thing, electric vehicles and with California representing 12 percent of U.S. car sales, the volt rush was on.
After amending the ZEV mandates a couple of times, California finally backed off entirely last year. The net result was significant engineering development and progress and every major car company in the world that showing electric cars, some of which that actually became available in small numbers to consumers, and mostly in California and Arizona.
As for the gasoline-electric hybrid, by 1996 prototype vehicles had been revealed by many automakers, and they continue to do so with a variety of innovative technical designs. As for the reality of hybrids, Toyota introduced the Prius sub-compact sedan for the Japan home market in December 1997—the world's first mass-produced hybrid car. Honda beat Toyota to the U.S. market in 2000 with its two-seat Insight hybrid, and the Prius followed several months later."
So maybe we did TRY a little - but not hard enough I suppose......
Laterz.........
