US military warns "we're running out of oil".

injuneer · 12-04-2010, 20:09

US military warns oil output may dip by 2015 and the upheaval that will entail.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...duction-supply

Spectato · 12-04-2010, 21:44

Kind of makes you want to say:
"Well, duh!"
Although most people probably still think current fuel prices are just a blip.

You have to wonder why this 'bombshell' is coming from the US military.
Are there some new terrorist atrocities on the horizon, perhaps with Venezuela held responsible this time?

idi banashapan · 12-04-2010, 22:57

i reckon Iran will be the next global threat to peace - they've still got some reserves. oh, and Russia had a massive find of untapped reserves a couple of years back now. maybe it's them (or perhaps that's why they're getting friendly all of a sudden?)

v0id · 12-04-2010, 23:07

are they looking for an excuse to invade (sorry, liberate) Iran?

budwieser · 12-04-2010, 23:13

So, Lets get the Nuclear power stations up and running then.

12-04-2010, 23:43

This is actually a very intelligent, and forward looking report by the US military. I remember being told back in Gulf 1, that a modern Armoured Division, under combat conditions burns in excess of 100,000 ltrs of fuel a day. Thats a hell of a lot of diesel in anyone's books. Considering the state of the world's economies, persistent droughts in area's of high cereal production, increasing global temperatures thanks to global warming, religious and political instability in regions bordering oil/gas producing nations, etc etc etc....

So for a change the American Military are taking a look at the future to try to ensure they can keep their tanks rolling.... Seems eminently sensible to me....

danielf · 13-04-2010, 00:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

This is actually a very intelligent, and forward looking report by the US military. <snip>

So for a change the American Military are taking a look at the future to try to ensure they can keep their tanks rolling.... Seems eminently sensible to me....

When did it become part of the US Army's brief to comment publicly on the state of world oil reserves? I say back to the barracks boys, and leave politics to the politicians.

13-04-2010, 01:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

When did it become part of the US Army's brief to comment publicly on the state of world oil reserves? I say back to the barracks boys, and leave politics to the politicians.

Most likely because the US is a net importer of crude oil, thus it important for the top brass to ensure its ability to project power is not compromised by suddenly finding its starved for POL....

Osem · 13-04-2010, 13:22

I wonder if the Falkland Isles will suddenly become a major US base or even the 51st state...

13-04-2010, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

I wonder if the Falkland Isles will suddenly become a major US base or even the 51st state...

Well, by last reports they had found little to nothing so far....

Spectato · 13-04-2010, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

So for a change the American Military are taking a look at the future to try to ensure they can keep their tanks rolling.... Seems eminently sensible to me....

Keep the tanks rolling to secure more oil, to keep the tanks rolling, to secure more oil, to keep the tanks rolling....
You get the idea.

Open to the inevitability of whatever it's going to take to keep the current, unsustainable infrastructure intact, right to the very last drop.

"Sensible" perhaps.
Practical even, but god help the poor sods living in and around the oil-rich countries.

Osem · 13-04-2010, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

Well, by last reports they had found little to nothing so far....

Well it's always best to get in at the bottom of the market not the top...

**Maggy** · 13-04-2010, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectato

"Sensible" perhaps.
Practical even, but god help the poor sods living in and around the oil-rich countries.

Why?Some of those states are doing very well and a far more stable than many other countries.It's only Iraq and Iran and possibly Libya that can be cause for concern..The unstable Middle East countries are the oil poor of the region.

Spectato · 13-04-2010, 18:02

They may be doing well - today - but they could eventually find themselves in the unenviable position of having something that no one else has, but wants/needs very badly.
Theoretical of course, but who knows what horrors await?

**Maggy** · 13-04-2010, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectato

They may be doing well - today - but they could eventually find themselves in the unenviable position of having something that no one else has, but wants/needs very badly.
Theoretical of course, but who knows what horrors await?

Well that depends on how well they keep treading the careful line that they are the moment but even they can't make their supplies last for ever.

The fact is that alternatives of power and fuel need finding and research needs doing long before we get to the state where we invade to steal resources.Despite my misgivings I'm sure most governments of developed countries have been thinking long and hard about the possibilities for some time.