U.S. Quest for Oil Drives Dangerous Foreign Policy

Interview with Michael Klare, director of the Peace and World Security Studies program, at Hampshire College, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

Whether or not one believes that Iraq's oil is a fundamental reason for the U.S. war there, it's undeniable that U.S. access to cheap Middle Eastern oil has been essential to powering the American and world economies.

Professor Michael Klare is director of the Peace and World Security Studies program at Hampshire College in Massachusetts and an authority on foreign policy and national security. His newest book is titled, "Blood and Oil: The dangers and consequences of America's petroleum dependency" in which he delineates the key role of oil in guiding U.S. foreign policy in the past and present. "Ultimately," he writes, "the cost of oil will be measured in blood: the blood of American soldiers who die in combat, the blood of the many other casualties of oil-related violence, including the victims of terrorism."

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with professor Klare about the historical links between access to imported oil and U.S. foreign policies, and why he believes it is essential for the US to separate energy policy from its security commitments.

For more information, call the Peace and World Security Studies program at Hampshire College, (413) 559-5367 or visit their website at pawss.hampshire.edu

Related links:


Institute for Policy Studies at www.ips-dc.org

"Yassin and Annexation," Z Magazine, March 30, 2004

"Murdering Sheikh Yassin," Tikkun Magazine, March 30, 2004

Electronic Intifada Publishes news, commentary, analysis, and reference materials about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from a Palestinian perspective

Tikkun Magazine, www.tikkun.org A community of people from many faiths and traditions, with a vision of healing and transforming our world. Guided by the principles to achieve social justice, ecological sanity, and world peace, and the inner healing needed to foster loving relationships, as well as a generous attitude toward the world and toward others

"Israel/Occupied Territories: Wanton Destruction Constitutes a War Crime," Amnesty International, Oct. 14, 2003

"The origin of the Palestine-Israeli conflict," Jews for Justice, April 5, 2002

"Background to the Israel-Palestine Crisis," by Stephen R. Shalom, Z Magazine, May 2002 "Middle East Time Line," by Stephen R. Shalom, Z Magazine, (revised, Dec. 12, 2001)

ZNet Middle East Watch, History and Context, a resource page featuring articles, links and resources explaining the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict and providing contextual background information.

"Ten Years After Oslo," by Catherine Cook, Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Mich.), September 2003

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