Fact or Fiction?
5
A major role of the U.S. military is to protect the free flow of oil
True. The sudden loss of regional oil networks would paralyze the global economy. As part of its global superpower responsibilities, the U.S. has worked for decades to ensure that oil from the Persian Gulf is available to fuel international trade and economy. According to a 2012 International Studies Perspectives report, the task of securing critical straits and chokepoint – like Malacca and Hormuz – is taken on by a single participation, the United States. “In the case of the Persian Gulf,” the report notes, “the costs associated with maintaining the presence of the fifth fleet may serve as a direct proxy for a price tag to secure sea lanes in this region.”
“The United States regards secure oil supplies as part of its interest and mission,” the report continues, “and therefore includes global oil transit in its force planning.”
More simply put, the U.S. military could theoretically ensure a steady supply of oil by protecting oil flows closer to home – from Canada, Mexico, South America, the North Sea and Africa. But the United States also must consider the health of the overall global economic system. A massive shortfall of oil elsewhere in the world would not only affect the price of oil everywhere, but would also almost certainly undermine the global economic system.
Furthermore, the U.S. military relies on assured access to oil, and it isn’t inexpensive. “In addition to buying the fuel, the U.S devotes enormous resources to ensure the military receives the fuel it needs to operate,” according to a report on energy and risks to national security by Alexandria, VA-based CNA Solutions. “A large component of the logistics planning and resources are devoted to buying, operating, training, and maintaining logistics assets for delivering fuel to the battlefield—and these delivery costs exceed the cost of buying the commodity.”
- By Elizabeth Bunn