[RN7]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Not to pick nits, but...


As to Oil, you haven't been keeping track of things by the looks of it. Proven Oil Reserves (IE, Oil that we *know* is there, not that we *think* is there) has never been higher. In fact, the US is a net *exporter* of petroleum products, and we haven't touched the majority of those reserves inside the US or in Canada. I won't get into why as that will go political faster than anything - and this a bad thing. .

Of course America's got loads of oil, its proven oil reserves are about 35 billion barrels according to the US Geological Survey, and sure Canada has loads of oil but its not in America. However the countries that export the most oil to America have a lot more (Canada-175 bb, Saudi Arabia-265 bb, Mexico-140 bb and Venezuela-300 bb) and unlike America who consumes 20 million barrels of oil a day, they consume considerably less even if you add China who is the second largest consumer in the world to their consumption figures.

Also America exports petroleum products, jet fuels, heating oil and gasoline, due to the fact it has the world biggest and most extensive refining industry, but it does not export barrels of crude oil in any large quantities that I'm aware of.

America's control of the world oil industry, even its own, has declined. It is still is word biggest consumer of oil by a country mile, it has the worlds biggest refining, drilling and exploitation industry, and is home to the worlds biggest oil company and home to many others, but it does not dominate the world oil industry as it did a quarter of a century ago.

Originally Posted by Panther Al

And while you are correct on the amount of foreign ownership of domestic mines and manufacturing centres, those are still *inside* the US: They can always have the ownership status changed in the case of a national emergency. In fact, having worked for a company that is involved in manufacturing, there is standard clauses inserted in the purchase contracts that specify the conditions where that can happen. Not easy mind, but....

I think you will find that most countries have the same attitude and rules towards foreign ownership of their companies and resources. In fact America itself owns considerable parts of the economy and real estate of other countries in the developed and developing world, and I would't care to estimate how much of China's high value export manufacturing sector is controlled from the States. But America seems to have double standards about foreign ownership of its own industry and infrastructure. Its a crisis when China takes over a technology firm, or the Japanese build another car factory, or the Arabs buy a few docks and cranes, but its ok when the British buy swathes of America's oil and gas infrastructure or take over and open up factories that build parts for the entire American aerospace sector including the F-22 and B-2 Bomber.

Originally Posted by Panther Al

But, if the crap well and truly hit the fan, that wouldn't be an issue.

And lets not forget that Europe was only able to do what it did in Libya because the US provided everything - after all, everyone else ran out of munitions by and large very early in the game (And to be fair, thats more because of the post cold war drawdown, and everyone got used to uncle sammie and the handouts he gives out) - and midair refuelling was all provided by the US.


Its very chic to america bash - and to be fair, sometimes we deserve it. But don't be blind about and remember all the things that wouldn't be so nice in all those other countries if it wasn't for that peculiar mix of kind hearted, friendly, weird, aggressive, and generous with anything jingoism that is America.


And remember the source, and the sources source. A site hosted by someone who avows that he hates everything that America stands for, and a traitor that agrees with all that the former believes in. Doesn't mean that what was post was a lie: Its probably not. Its just judicially cherry picked to make the point they want it to make.

I would agree with most of what you say and I'm no America basher, but getting back to facts. The fact is that America is exposed to and dependent on the outside world far more than it cares to know.