Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) America’s National Security Is Connected to Energy Dependence

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), former Presidential Candidate, writes, on The Hill Blog:

I’m here because I think there’s a close connection between national security and America’s energy independence. I pointed out that we now have seen an increase in defense energy costs from about $3 billion in 1997 to $11 billion in 2007, not counting even the massive increases in the last couple months. That $8 billion increase for the Department of Defense alone means we have less money available for equipment, for quality of life, for military housing, and for all of the other things that are important in the defense budget.

I also pointed out that the major exporters for the United States are not only Canada and Saudi Arabia and Mexico, but the fourth largest exporter is Venezuela, which is using American petroleum dollars to purchase weapons from the Russians. That’s something that Americans should be very concerned about. Throughout the world, their energy dollars are being used to arm potential adversaries. I think there’s a close connection between national security and America’s energy dependence.