Oil Warrior: “If you want to beat Bin Laden, buy a Prius”.

[xcel]

This man ran the CIA, fought the Cold War, and averted nuclear Armageddon. Now he says that if you want to beat Bin Laden, buy a Prius.

Ben Oliver - Motor Trend - May 8, 2007

James Woolsey of Plug in America: "Transportation is 97-percent dependent on oil, which means our oil-importing society has an Achilles' heel sitting out there in the most volatile part of the world." The Prius all by its lonesome can fight the initial battle with far more efficiency and might then the US military in its entirety can muster.

Robert James Woolsey Jr.-Jim to his friends-isn't your typical Prius driver. Educated at Stanford, Oxford, and Yale, he was facing down the Russians in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks of the late 1960s before he was out of his 20s. He's held a series of senior government posts; the walls of his office bear signed photographs and messages of thanks from every president since Nixon. In 1993, Bill Clinton made him director of Central Intelligence, giving him control of the CIA's $30-billion annual budget and its network of tens of thousands of agents and a brief to run covert operations against America's enemies, whoever and wherever they might be. His diaries probably read like a Tom Clancy novel.

Since he stepped down from that assignment, he's become one of Washington's most hawkish hawks, agitating early for the removal of Saddam Hussein, pointing a finger at Iraq in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and calling for the bombing of Syria. By rights, Woolsey ought to drive a big, bad Hummer. Instead, he drives a Prius, and he says that if you live in a country dependent on imported oil, it's your patriotic duty to do the same. His argument is simple: It's a bad thing for transport to depend on oil when the great majority of that oil lies in volatile parts of the world whose governments are hostile to the West. Moreover, he argues that, by making the Middle East so wealthy, we're indirectly subsidizing terror. For Woolsey, the cash register at your local gas station is a collection box for Al Qaeda. "We're paying for both sides in this war, and that's not a good long-term strategy," he says. "I have a bumper sticker on the back of my Prius that reads, 'Bin Laden hates this car.'" … [Read More]

[Earthling]

I worked two years in Saudi Arabia for ARAMCO, in the early 80's. I was deeply offended and felt betrayed when it turned out most of the 9-11 terrorists were Saudis. One very strong motivation for me to buy a Prius is exactly the one Woolsey uses as his primary one, to keep petro dollars away from terrorists.

By the way, here's a link for a bumper sticker:

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/terrori...t_/pg_/c_/fpt_

Harry

[Earthling]

More web surfing brought me here:

http://www.SetAmericaFree.org/

"A COALITION of tree huggers, do-gooders, sodbusters, cheap hawks, and evangelicals."
R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA

Harry

[Chuck]

I too wish we would get serious about eliminiating our need for oil.

OPEC nations would not longer have leverage on our economy.

Having said all that, independance from OPEC oil will not entirely stop terrorism. After all it took only $500,000 to launch the 9/11 attacks.

Some elements of terrorism is cultural, political, religious - just pointing it out - not inviting an extended discussion. At least energy self-sufficiency would help.

I am glad to see James Woolsey and Gov Schwartzenegger weighing in on environmental issues - this should not be considered a partisan matter.

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by Earthling

More web surfing brought me here:

http://www.SetAmericaFree.org/

"A COALITION of tree huggers, do-gooders, sodbusters, cheap hawks, and evangelicals."
R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA

Harry

I'm probably not with some of you guys and gals on strictly environmental issues. I'm sure some here might disagree, but the terms "conservative" (which I apply to myself) and "environmentally responsible" are not mutually exclusive. I believe this world is God's creation and His gift to us, and He expects us to be good stewards of it, but not worship it.

On this issue, I am with you. This is my hot button. If I have to radically change my way of life because I'm held hostage to foreign oil and terrorists, they win. The Prius is one way I've chosen to fight that battle.

Wayne, thanks for the article. And Earthling, thanks for the link. I'm surprised I've never heard of the organization. I'll have to look into it further.

[mparrish]

Wow. Look what the President said today!

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Whatever else any of us may be doing, the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles is something all of us can do and should do to help win the war.

I am happy to report tonight that it is something which nearly everyone seems to be doing. Although there are now approximately 200 million persons who have or earn some form of income, 100 million persons or their children have already bought fuel efficient vehicles. Their purchases have totaled more than 20 billion dollars. These are the purchases of individual men, women, and children. Anyone who would have said this was possible a few years ago would have been put down as a starry-eyed visionary. But of such visions is the stuff of America fashioned.
=========================

Oh whoops. I'm sorry. That was FDR giving a fireside chat about war bonds in the 40s.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/print.php?pid=16522

My mistake. Guess there is no war since I'm not being asked to do anything. I'm gonna do it anyway though.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by mparrish

Wow. Look what the President said today!

=========================
Whatever else any of us may be doing, the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles is something all of us can do and should do to help win the war.

I am happy to report tonight that it is something which nearly everyone seems to be doing. Although there are now approximately 200 million persons who have or earn some form of income, 100 million persons or their children have already bought fuel efficient vehicles. Their purchases have totaled more than 20 billion dollars. These are the purchases of individual men, women, and children. Anyone who would have said this was possible a few years ago would have been put down as a starry-eyed visionary. But of such visions is the stuff of America fashioned.
=========================

Oh whoops. I'm sorry. That was FDR giving a fireside chat about war bonds in the 40s.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/print.php?pid=16522

My mistake. Guess there is no war since I'm not being asked to do anything. I'm gonna do it anyway though.

There were plenty of war posters back then with messages like: "When you waste gas, you are helping the enemy".

In another place, there is an arguement that seems to be going like this:

• I can drive what I want
• The more oil the Middle East produces, the more some of their citizens will fund terrorists organizations
• How dare you accuse me of funding terrorism while I drive what I want!

Kind of leads to a recent Jack Nicholson line: "You can't handle the truth!"

This attitude so many have would have lost us World War II.

[Dan]

Oil money at work: (warning, not suitable for work, strong language)

http://dubai.isnuts.googlepages.com/

11011011

[brick]

Originally Posted by JimboK

If I have to radically change my way of life because I'm held hostage to foreign oil and terrorists, they win. The Prius is one way I've chosen to fight that battle.

I'm completely with you on that, Jim. Feeling the squeeze of increasing fuel prices and seeing more to come is what pushed me to CleanMPG and eventually to buying my car. I want to live my life the way I want to live it, but that means doing something to make that lifestyle sustainable. The vast majority of us have a very long way to go yet but driving a Prius, Insight, HCH, Metro, Yaris, Fit, etc. is a good start.