Mideast Unrest Should Drive U.S. Energy Independence

Press Release

By Peter Urban, Stephens Washington Bureau

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., returned from a week-long trip to northern Africa and the Middle East convinced the U.S. should increase domestic energy production to lessen the nation's dependence on an oil-producing region that is in political turmoil.

"After being there first-hand, it reaffirms the importance of this country … to use the natural resources we have been blessed with and become less dependent on the leadership of these countries that are in such chaos," Boozman said today.

Some supporters of developing alternative fuel sources contend that with just 3 percent of the world's known oil reserves, a major spike in U.S. oil production would do next to nothing to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Boozman traveled last week with a group of about 10 lawmakers, under the auspices of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, to meet with political and military leaders in seven nations including Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Israel, Turkey and Germany.

"The primary issue we talked about was fighting radical Islam," Boozman said.

The trip also gave Boozman an opportunity to meet with Arkansas troops serving in the region.

"I patted them on the back and told them how proud we are of them. And, I'd make sure to ask if they are getting the resources they need," he said.

The trip came during a pivotal time in northern Africa. The last month has seen the ouster of Tunisia's president, the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek and rebellion in Libya where a defiant President Moammar Gadhafi remains in office.

Oil prices have spiked to nearly $100 a barrel in the wake of the turmoil, sending U.S. gas prices soaring.

Boozman said that the rising unrest was a "huge topic" among all of the leaders that he met with including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"He likened the event to a massive earthquake and that nobody is sure what will be the aftermath of that," Boozman said. "We are very concerned about the transition so you have stable situations with governments that respect human rights and don't become safe havens for radical Islam."

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