So goes General Wesley Clark’s “100 Year Vision for America“:
Looking ahead 100 years, the United States will be defined by our environment, both our physical environment and our legal, Constitutional environment. America needs to remain the most desirable country in the world, attracting talent and investment with the best physical and institutional environment in the world. But achieving our goals in these areas means we need to begin now. Environmentally, it means that we must do more to protect our natural resources, enabling us to extend their economic value indefinitely through wise natural resource extraction policies that protect the beauty and diversity of our American ecosystems — our seacoasts, mountains, wetlands, rain forests, alpine meadows, original timberlands and open prairies. We must balance carefully the short-term needs for commercial exploitation with longer-term respect for the natural gifts our country has received. We may also have to assist market-driven adjustments in urban and rural populations, as we did in the 19th Century with the Homestead Act.
Institutionally, our Constitution remains the wellspring of American freedom and prosperity. We must retain a pluralistic democracy, with institutional checks and balances that reflect the will of the majority while safeguarding the rights of the minority. We must seek to maximize the opportunities for private gain, consistent with concern for the public good. And we must institute a culture of transparency and accountability, in which we set the world standard for good government.
It was this document that inspired so many to follow the General’s leadership in the 2003 primaries. It’s as fresh today as it was then.
This site concerns itself with the General’s views on energy, environment and governance. It is not connected to WesPac Securing America or any other official Clark website.
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March 31, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Ron Bengtson
I believe this is something you will want to read:
Nexus—OIL and AL Qaeda, By Frank H. Denton, PhD http://www.AmericanEnergyIndependence.com/nexus.html
—an in-depth explanation of the connection between Middle East oil revenue and the worldwide expansion of Islamic terrorism.
Frank Denton has a PhD in foreign affairs and is the author of Knowing the Roots of War and several other books. He spent a decade with the RAND Corp. before joining the U.S. Foreign Service. He served in Afghanistan, Jordan, Egypt and the Philippines as well as in Washington. He is now retired.
The discussion paper reads like a History Channel documentary:
“The meteoric rise of oil revenues in the 20th century meant a new era for Islam; oil revenues were the catalyst that converted passive resentment into Islamic Terrorism.
“Oil provides the revenues for the Fundamentalists, but it as well represents their basic weakness. An examination of the economies of Middle Eastern nations shows that the removal of oil revenues will render these nations politically inert. Recognizing this economic weakness, a global embargo of oil imports from the Middle East is shown to be an attractive means for defeating Al Qaeda. Severely curtailing then eliminating the reliance on Middle East oil will decimate the Islamic terrorists by cutting off both emotional and financial support.”
Contents:
Part 1 – Oil, the catalyst for the formation of Al Qaeda
Part 2 – Financing the Jihadists
Part 3 – Islam’s Oil Addiction
This eloquent exposé on the connection between oil wealth and terrorism leads to the undeniable conclusion that energy independence is an imperative for achieving national and global security. Frank Denton brings a new depth of insight to this complex and multi-faceted subject.
Be sure to send Frank your comments.
The paper is also available in Adobe PDF for download.
Ron Bengtson, Editor
Alternative Energy Evangelist
Ron@AmericanEnergyIndependence.com
March 6, 2008 at 11:49 am
bibomedia.com