War and Oil (gallon, Iraq, interviews, Afghanistan)

[Mike from back east]

Here's a piece in Business Week, the advice of retired U.S. military Generals and Admirals, about the unsustainability of our dependence on oil for military operations.

Excerpts:

- dependence on oil-based fuels left the U.S. military seriously over-extended in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the officers' report, issued on May 18 by CNA, a military think tank based in Alexandria, Va. The 62-page report asserts that the true cost of fuel, including logistics and the military protection of sea lanes, can run to hundreds of dollars a gallon.

- full accounting of the cost of fuel would include the U.S. Navy's protection of sea lanes, the maintenance of military bases in countries such as Bahrain, and the stationing of massive numbers of troops abroad, according to the report and interviews with its authors. In Iraq, just 10% of fuel used for ground forces went to heavy vehicles such as tanks and amphibious vehicles delivering lethal force; the other 90% was consumed by Humvees and other vehicles delivering and protecting the fuel and forces. "This is the antithesis of efficiency," the report says.

- Another problem is batteries. In Afghanistan, each U.S. soldier is burdened by carrying 26 pounds of batteries, which "hinders their operational capability by limiting their maneuverability and causing muscular-skeletal injuries," ....


There we have it. Ten percent of the fuel is used in actual operations, the other 90% of fuel is used getting that 10% to the people on the pointy end of the spear. It's long since time to move on with energy independence and all that goes with it.

[cruxan]

we need to get out of iraq once and for all.. clean cheap sustainable domestic energy is the key to a sound us economy..but no we will wait for crisis management to solve our enegy problems..burn the oil first than figure out what to do next... dang that's not a good method..

[Paul Negresco]

Russia and Canada have started expanding into oil reach Arctic. Should US start thinking of serious scientific and military expeditions to salvational North Pole?

[GregW]

During WW2 General Eisenhower pointed out that each armored division required 900 tons of petroleum, lubricants and munitions each day. He devises a truck based supply system that effectively supplied all the oil and ammo needed to win the war.

I am not surprised by the ration of truckers to tankers. Once armies stopped living off the captured land and instituted dedicated supply systems they have required about 9 truckers for every spear carrier. I do think the modern soldier is over burdened with stuff. I can see the usefulness of armor and radios but 26 lbs of batteries? I can wonder about a rifle that requires the firing of three small bullets instead of one bullet big enough to do the job. But what do I know; I’m just a long gone Mekong River Rat.