For U.S. Military, More Oil Means More Death

HOUSTON - If President Obama decides to send another 20,000 soldiers to Afghanistan, the Department of Defense will also have to figure out how to send along another half-million gallons of fuel a day to support them. Since the end of World War II, the use of petroleum-based fuels has risen 175% to 22 gallons per solider per day. In 2008 U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan burned through 25 million barrels of oil.

It's more than a conservation issue. More fuel consumption correlates directly to more deaths. So asserts a new report by Deloitte Consulting on the military's energy security. "The biggest game changer for reducing casualties is reduction in convoys," says retired Air Force General Charles Wald, the lead author of the report. Fuel convoys are easy targets for roadside bombs, which have accounted for nearly half of American deaths in Iraq and almost 40% of deaths in Afghanistan.

Even though convoys are the big culprit, the Deloitte report calls for a concerted effort to reduce petroleum consumption and adopt renewable and green energy alternatives across the entire military. Though this recommendation may be in line with green politics, it doesn't seem...

What's it cost to get this fuel to war zones? Like the rest of us, the military currently pays between $2 and $3 a gallon for fuel. But that's just a starting point. Add in the cost of an unprotected fuel convoy and the price climbs to $15 a gallon. But in war there's no such thing as an unprotected convoy; in June 2008 attacks, accidents and pilferage from convoys led to the loss of 44 trucks and 220,000 gallons. The report figures that once you factor in ground and air protection for a 950-mile round trip this "fully burdened" cost approaches $45 a gallon...

Uh Huh. And what's the cost of NOT getting it there? Really.

The bottom line is that you need what you need, where you need it, when you need it. Anything less is far more expensive, whether it is ammo, food, fuel, (or especially) people.

Our bipartisan leaders have known for nearly 20 years that Iran was the kingpin of strength and source of ongoing trouble in the Middle East, and we could have taken Iran down with one large, long bombing campaign and military pursuit (as in chase, movement) at a much lower total cost of fuel. The alternative will be global, high-intensity conflict in the near future. Whoever decided that there would be no more high-intensity conflicts was a rich, hippie-minded, effete retard follower of ancient Roman errors.

Business, political and academic leaders are afraid of invading, occupying and denazifying Iran, because they are terrified of freight fuel prices rising and the obvious, impending collapse of their globalism and libertine, lazy ways.

Environmentalists have been prancing around Bases like 29 Palms and Campen and Forts liker Irwin, Bragg and Hood here in the US for 20+ years now.

At first they were “Guests” of the Base Commanders to show sympathy and concern about the environment (Civil community relations). They simply observed and made the occasional comment.. working their way into positions of Power. Today they are shrill Eco Nazis increasing the costs of training while decreasing it’s quality..Demanding Vehicles and Men stay on roads and trails.. (now you know one more reason our men are dying for no reason. We fight as we train right?). Hell the eco nazis call their EPA Friends and suddenly we are paying Millions in Training Dollars to the EPA in fines for spilling oil on the ground? Chewing thru training days worrying about 5 gallons of oil that spilled from a broken crank case?

How about changing the time of a training exercises rerouting an attack to avoid disturbing Birds as they mate?
(That sort of stuff happens all the time).

Having said that let’s make Lemonade from Lemons...

It is possible to reduce the fuel usages and kill more enemy.. (which in truth upsets the enviros anyway as they are just engaging in Softwar against the US in their own way) Reducing fuel consumption to increase our effectiveness in killing the enemy is a worthwhile goal. Not that difficult either.

Aircraft chew thru fuel resources and cost more per hour to operate than any other platforms.

While we all like to see the Flying Taliban when a JDAM or Hellfire missle hits (assuming you are on our (US) side..
One has to realize that is a very costly way to kill the enemy. 100 to $300k each time to kill a few enemy will leave us long broke before we run out of enemy..

Direct and Indirect fire weapons from Tracked Weapons platforms can do the same job more often than not cheaper but those assets have been deliberately omitted reduced from the TOE (Tables of Organization and Equipment) brought into the theatres of operations.

To succeed requires our Generals to stop their Light Fighter Wheeled Crapmobile Madness and get down to the serious business of killing our enemy.. Something beyond them still at least for now.

Substituting real Tracked Armor, Mech Infantry Vehicles and Tracked Artillery for AirCraft where ever possible...would save considerable amounts of fuel and provide more protection for our Men in the field. (No 20 min wait to start bringing heat).

Our Generals worry about their carbon foot print when they should worry about the cost in American Lives and Resources per casualty we inflict on our enemies.

That is a number we want to keep as low on our side as possible killing as many of the enemy as we can per dollars spent.

Getting air where ever possible out of the picture (not everywhere of course, that is a stupid as what we are doing now) Combined Arms has always been the ticket..Our Generals ignored that for too long resulting in the wasting of American lives.

Increasing the use of heavy organic based weapons platforms like Mobile Artillery and Mech Armor would better support that goal.

That being said.. To Hell with the Enviro Nazis. They are costing American Marines and Soldiers Lives because of their largely successful efforts to restrict Training here in the US.. They do this knowingly and merit only our contempt..

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