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Summary:
In his pathbreaking Resource Wars, world security expert Michael T. Klare alerted us to the role of resources in conflicts in the post-Cold War world. Now, in Blood and Oil, he concentrates on a single precious commodity, petroleum, while issuing a warning to the United States-its most powerful, and most dependent, global consumer. Since September 11th and the commencement of the 'war on terror,' the world's attention has been focused on the relationship between U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the oceans of crude oil that lie beneath the region's soil. Klare traces oil's impact on international affairs since World War II, revealing its influence on the Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon, and Carter doctrines. He shows how America's own wells are drying up as our demand increases; by 2010, the United States will need to import 60 percent of its oil. And since most of this supply will have to come from chronically unstable, often violently anti-American zones-the Persian Gulf, the Caspian Sea, Latin America, and Africa-our dependency is bound to lead to recurrent military involvement. With clarity and urgency, Blood and Oil delineates the United States' predicament and cautions that it is time to change our energy policies, before we spend the next decades paying for oil with blood.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Spectacular, Informative, Insightful
Customer Rating:
All of these are words that describe this book, and so many more that I can't even imagine. As somebody who spends a lot of time working on Energy Policy, this really helped put the issues I work on in perspective from a general standpoint. The depth of Klare's research is astonishing. For anybody who doesn't fully understand the energy crisis hitting our country, this book is a MUST-READ.
Which America?
Customer Rating:
Michael T. Klare writes that resouces are the root of most contemporary conflicts. Oil is unique among the world's resources as it has the potential to provoke major crises and conflicts in the years ahead. Oil has acquired a pivotal and volatile role because of the centrality to the "vigor and growth" of the American economy and to the "preservation of a distinctly American way of life." American leaders have felt compelled to do whatever necessary to ensure that enough is available to satisfy the ever growing needs. People look the other way as America establishes close ties to corrupt and repressive oil regimes.
With burgeoning global growth in a multitude of nations, especially in America, China and Russia, oil cannot be pumped neither cheaply nor quickly enough. A face-off to remove the last oil is developing in the Middle East and around the Caspian Sea. It now becomes necessary to develop alternative energy sources.
I am reminded of the billions of dollars in tsunami aid raised in the United States and around the world. That money went along way to relieve people in distress. Is this really the same country that helped so many? A nation that can do so much good cannot curb oil consumption in the face of so much damages, while encouraging the rest of the world to do just the same?
The next few years will be telling years. These years will determine which America will prevail. Will the benevolent leader alter its ways?
Very Sober View of International Conflict
Customer Rating:
Michael Klare presents an excellent model to predict future international conflict. With Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" theory, and Francis Fukuyama's one-world hypothesis both failing to be realized, it is refreshing to see a more sober view of world conflict in the post Cold War world. Klare uses the history of the United States' pursuit of oil, and facts and figures regarding the future of petroleum supply to conclude that oil will be a crucial factor in foreign policy in the coming era. He details subjects such as the United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia, the objectives of Central Command, The Gulf War, and the current Iraq War, and how our oil dependency as consequences both economic and deadly. Klare's writing is clear and concise, and presents his argument well. In short, this book is fantastic.
Blood and Oil
Customer Rating:
Blood and Oil is an interesting book; however, I personally believe that Klare takes too long to present the problem. I think he overstates the problem with too many facts. Facts do validate the problem and the need for a solution but he just has too many of them to make the facts signicificant. I think he should have spent over half of that time on solutions to the problem. The topic of this book is very well choosen and does need more people to know about it. People do need to understand that this is a problem and we need to do something about it. Over all I thought the book was boring and rather lenghty. The same things could have been said in a chapter. Nobody cares about the history behind the problem. People just need to know that there is one and we need to do something about it soon.
Not a great title, but yes, a good book.
Customer Rating:
When I first saw the book, I judged it only by the cover title thinking this was another book criticizing Unites States foreign policy in the Middle East. Although there is a bit of that, which of course is a respectable view, I was deeply pleased by the author realistic and not passional explanation of the facts regarding USA oil dependency, covering all the aspects every one needs to know in order to have a wider view of the subject and introduce yourself to the geopolitics of zones like the Persian Golf, the Caspian Sea and Latin America. And yes, there is a new great game these days and if you go asleep, you might lose ... we need these zones to be stables zones.
I am worried about this theme, mainly because I believe we are reaching a point that any problem in those important zones might impact profoundly in the world economy, so it is of major importance to have an stable source of this precious oil for the time being. We need to start now to reduce our consuption and I believe that the Unites States and Europe should lead the way so other countries follow, but how? well, some of the suggestions of the author like start mixing ethanol with regular oil and using less powerful engines in automobiles is a good, reasonable, first step, following the difficult introduction of new technologies like hybrid cars and others. We cannot deplete oil, we will continue need of it, for airplanes and future problems so in my view, is important to have a reserve of oil that can be stretched out the most years possible (let's have in mind that gasoline and diesel have a high energy per volume, compared others types of fuels, like natural gas for instance). Other coutries of the world should start thinking now in expanding its rail/subway transportation and using natural gas instead in Buses as well. I know it is not an easy thing to do, but if not now, it will be by force and not very pleasant for everybody if a country is not prepared. A complex subject, there is a lot to say but let's see what the future brings.
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