Word: persian
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...global power relationships ever seen in a period of relative peace ... Unchecked, the growth of Soviet military force must eventually paralyze Western policy altogether." Haig told the Senators that the evidence of danger "is everywhere"-in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, its forces ringing Poland, its shadow over the Persian Gulf region and its efforts to stir up trouble in Africa and Latin America...
...refused to say whether he backed the proposed mobile MX missile system or favored abolishing draft registration. Weinberger did, however, also aim a blast at the outgoing Administration. Refusing to endorse the Carter doctrine that the U.S. would go to war to protect its vital interests in the Persian Gulf, he charged that Carter's failure to consult with allies before proclaiming the doctrine was "extraordinarily clumsy and ill-advised...
...Nearly two-fifths of the oil consumed by the free world's economy is vulnerable to terrorism, accident, warfare, or extortion," Joseph S. Nye-professor of Public Policy and a co-editor of the study, argues on the book's first page. "The sudden loss of Persian Gulf oil for a year could stagger the world's economy, disrupt it, devastate it, like no event since the Great Depression of the 1930's." It is a prediction he and his fellow contributors back up with some very scary statistics...
...example, the West were to lose Saudi Arabian oil for a year, U.S. GNP would drop $272 billion, while inflation would skyrocket by 20 percent and unemployment would jump by 2 per cent. And if a war, natural disaster, or sabotage were to cut off all Persian Gulf oil, the GNPs of the U.S. Europe, and Japan would plummet by 13,22, and 25 per cent, respectively. These catastrophes could cause a wholesale shifting of alliances as Western nations pleaded, or fought, for oil-and, the authors claim, could prompt a global war as nations scrambled for diminished oil supplies...
...they argue, should the U.S. count on emergency supplies from Canada or Mexico. Canada is itself increasingly dependent on Persian Gulf oil, and Mexico's energy resources remain largely untapped. Her leaders seem unwilling to dole out oil to the superpower to the north, whose reputation in Mexico for ruthless imperialism lingers still. As contributor Kevin J. Middlebrook '72 notes, "The high political sensitivity of this issue would make it difficult for Mexico to sustain any long-term commitment." So until widespread use of synthetic fuels becomes a reality-unlikely until after the year 2000-the U.S. can only pray...