A thought-provoking piece by Joe Kaufman, Chairman of Americans Against Hate, the host of The Politics of Terrorism radio show, and the spokesman for Terror-Free Oil Initiative:
As Iran decides its next move, Americans sit back, waiting for the effects at home. One of those possible effects is a higher average cost for gasoline, as so much of the gas we use is tethered to the Middle East. We cannot help but feel held hostage to the whims of those that, if they weren’t accepting our money, would instead accept our demise. Because of this, and other reasons as well, our quest is to get away from Middle Eastern oil altogether — to look for avenues out of the morass we find ourselves in. That seems a monumental task, indeed. However, there is one simple thing we can do in the meantime, and that is to purchase ‘terror-free’ oil.
Most Americans are unaware of the fact that some of the gasoline stations they purchase their gas from do not acquire their crude oil from the Middle East. Unfortunately, these companies are few and far between. In fact, these companies are literally few. As of this writing, the only major company numbered amongst them is Sinclair Oil Corporation, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with stations located in 20 other states, mostly throughout the West and Mid-West. Sinclair gets all of its crude from the U.S. and Canada.
Other companies, which do obtain oil from the Mid East but not from the Persian Gulf (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and company) — again, of this writing — include Hess, Sunoco and Citgo. They get most of their oil from places such as the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. Unfortunately, the latter area, for all three companies, includes Algeria, home to the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) terror organizations. Sunoco also has interests in Syria, which harbors the leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, amongst others. And Citgo is owned by the Venezuelan government, which aligns itself with terrorist Iran.
With respect to the other major companies, like Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP Amoco, Valero, Marathon and Conoco Phillips, their lot is tied directly to Saudi interests. Information concerning the location of these companies’ purchases is found within the July 2006 ‘Company Level Imports’ report on the website for the United States Energy Information Administration.
This paints a dismal picture for those that wish to spend their money wisely, away from those countries that provide safe harbor for our enemies. But until we find an alternative means for our energy consumption needs, buying ‘terror-free oil’ or even ‘close to terror-free oil’ is the least we can do.
It is important to stress that this is not a solution, by any means. People in the know will point out that oil is a fungible commodity, meaning that it is part of one big market and if it is taken away in one area it will be sold in another. However, whether that is true or not, purchasing gasoline from only those companies that are terror-conscious sends a clear message to all involved (the U.S. government and the companies) that we, the American public, are fed up with giving our hard earned dollars to those that wish to do us harm. It is this message that launched the creation of the Terror-Free Oil Initiative (TFOI).
As stated on the group’s website, the Terror-Free Oil Initiative was founded in April of 2006 to “educate the public by promoting those companies that acquire their crude oil supply from nations outside the Middle East and by exposing those companies that do not.” In addition to this, TFOI is looking to “create a healthy debate concerning alternate methods of fuel production and consumption.”
A poll on the TFOI website asks the following: “There are two gas stations, side-by-side. You know that one sells gasoline derived from the Middle East and one does not. Which one do you pull into?” For most, this question is a ‘no-brainer.’ For TFOI, it is a call to action!
Americans do not want to revisit the gas lines of the seventies, and most importantly, Americans do not want to fund those that are religiously dedicated to destroying our way of life. It is incumbent upon all Americans to seek new ways out the oil situation we find ourselves in today; but until that time — until we find those alternative sources of energy that will distance ourselves from our enemies — we must keep our gas tanks ‘terror-free.’ That is indeed the FIRST STEP TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.