Pumping Terrorism?

Pumping Terrorism?[/u]
Gary Aldrich
April 2, 2004

Conventional wisdom predicts terrorists will attempt to unseat President Bush by executing a spectacular act of violence before the U.S. election in November. This fear stems from the recent Madrid bombings, wherein the population produced an electoral upheaval when they chose temporary comfort over long-term security.

But can terrorists influence November's election without firing a single shot or taking one American life? The possibilities are higher than you think.

Criminals and terrorists angle for surprise. What surprises also impresses, causing the victim to take a calculated action. Anticipated events, however, create less impact. Terrorists know this, which is why they won't strike in a way we've already prepared for.

Recent reports of terrorists' plans to bomb oil refineries in Texas are a good example. Terrorists know enough about us to see that American politics is based largely on an individual's wallet. A series of attacks on Texas oil refineries would make gas prices soar, and subsequently the prices of other goods and services. If Americans feel a serious pinch in their wallet, they will probably take action to fix the problem. If President Bush can be pinned responsible for high gas prices because he could not stop the attacks or control OPEC, and if Senator Kerry convinces enough citizens that he will bring pump prices down, President Bush could lose this election.

But now that we're wise to their plans, terrorists probably won't strike oil refineries. They don't have to, because there is more than one way to cause gas prices to rise. Terrorists raised in oil-producing nations know this better than anyone. All they have to do is cause the oil flow to be turned off.

High gas prices affect all of us, and consumers have yet to feel the lasting economic impact. Not only will airline fares skyrocket, but summer boating or road trips may have to be cancelled. Major transportation providers will have to adjust their prices to match increased fuel costs. Even that can of peas in the cupboard will cost more as the manufacturers and distributors pass the costs on to us.

Are OPEC nations joining forces with the terrorists and the Kerry camp? If their announced decrease in crude oil production goes as planned, gas prices will increase by at least 8 cents at the pump over the next few weeks, and will continue even higher over the long-term.

Continued oil production squeezing will drive gas prices to the breaking point. Senator Kerry has already shifted blame to President Bush, stating Bush has not put enough pressure on OPEC to maintain crude oil production.

Meanwhile, the media wing of the Democratic Party conveniently forgets about Kerry's previous suggestions that higher gas taxes would compel Americans to drive less, thereby reducing America's dependence on foreign oil. Senator Kerry also voted against increases in domestic oil production, such as opening the vast oil reserves in Alaska. John Kerry is a Liberal, and Liberals are against taking any action to make America a self-sufficient, oil-producing nation.

Solar power and wind-driven turbines are Liberals' preferred energy sources. They hate nuclear power, oil tankers, or anything that could sully the environment. Their fantastic Rube Goldberg energy contraptions never proved their worth, and their "green-dreams" to preserve the earth have made us dependant on Arabian oil, subjecting us to blackmail and creating a seismic shift of political and economic power to the Arab world.

Such a power shift is certainly not in this nation's best interests. And to many common-sense Americans, this problem constitutes a national security emergency. Unfortunately, if John Kerry promises otherwise ill-informed swing-voters lower gas prices at the pump, more than a few greedy, registered ignoramuses will follow him anywhere.

In that case, OPEC, the terrorists, and Kerry are one step ahead of us. Kerry doesn't have to know one OPEC minister or ever communicate with or lay eyes on a single terrorist, but if he simply beats the "high gas prices" drum and sings in harmony with foreign nations and entities who prefer Kerry over Bush, he might just pull off a win in November.

But is Senator Kerry capable of such a Machiavellian deed? Has he ever aligned himself with America's enemies for his own political gain? The answer in a word: Vietnam.

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