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Wesley Clark on Energy & Oil
NATO General; Democratic Candidate for President
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De-carbonize energy production for national security
We must invest urgently to achieve energy independence and de-carbonize energy production, for this is more than an economic issue; it is a true national security problem. We need greater insulation from the Mideast and world energy markets.
And we need to reduce the levels of green house gases that we are dumping into the atmosphere. In fact, sustainable energy and so called green engineering provide major growth opportunities for American ingenuity, and we must move in that direction.
Source: A Time To Lead, by Wesley Clark, p.255
, Sep 4, 2007
Raise CAFE standards after consulting with experts
Q: Would you increase the required automobile fleet average of 27.5 mpg; & SUVs & pickups averaging 20.7 mpg?A: We now have the technology to make cars and SUVs that go twice as far on a gallon of gas by using more efficient engines and transmissions,
including hybrid cars that use both gasoline and an electric motor. In consultation with scientists, environmental groups, & industry, I will set new standards to raise the fuel economy and reduce the emissions of cars, SUVs, and light trucks.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Fuel Efficiency”
, Jan 25, 2004
Buy oil on the world market instead of occupying Iraq
We need an Iraq that stays together. We need something like some kind of a representative government. We need an Iraq that’s strong enough to protect itself from Al Qaida, but not so strong that it threatens its neighbors. And by doing this,
we’ll still have access to buy oil on the international market. I’m one of those people who don’t believe in occupying countries to extract their natural resources. I think you buy them on the world market.
Source: Democratic 2004 Primary Presidential Debate in Durham NH
, Dec 9, 2003
Drilling ANWR doesn’t help with energy independence
Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the grounds that “the gains in terms of US energy independence are relatively marginal.”
Source: The Diane Rehm Show, reported on DraftWesleyClark.com
, Aug 1, 2003
Look for replacements for internal combustion engine
For more than 100 years, the internal combustion engine has been the system of choice for automobiles and many other vehicles. Although electric motors have been available since the early 1800s, no one has been able to create a motor architecture that
is small enough, light enough, yet powerful enough to propel an automobile reliably and efficiently - until now. I believe that [newly developed] electric motors have a chance to be the propulsion system of choice for the twenty-first century.
Source: Tom Junod, “The General,” Esquire
, Aug 1, 2003
Establish redline of protection in places like ANWR
In general I am inclined not to support drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. I’ve looked at the issue, but the gains in terms of US energy independence are relatively marginal.
It’s an important redline in terms of trying to protect a pristine area in the environment. So, in general I am inclined to go against it right now.
Source: CNN, Crossfire
, Aug 1, 2003
Protection outweighs benefits from drilling in Alaska
[Drilling in Alaska] is an important question, both for the environmental movement and the energy issue. In general, I am inclined not to support drilling in the National Wildlife Refuge.
I’ve looked at the issue, but the gains in terms of US energy independence are relatively marginal. It’s an important redline in terms of trying to protect a pristine area in the environment.
Source: WMUR-FM, The Diane Rehm Show
, Jul 23, 2003
Renegotiate Kyoto Agreement rather than reject it
[Clark] would have renegotiated the Kyoto Agreement, rather than rejecting it outright, pointing out that the consistent pattern of rejecting international agreements set down by President Bush makes it hard to get international cooperation.
Source: Gerry Krownstein, “The CNN General,” New York Stringer
, Jul 1, 2003
Don’t rule out nuclear, but focus on solar & wind power
I am not one of those people who will rule out nuclear energy as a contributor to dealing with the energy problem. We’ve just got lots of things we need to do on energy conservation and energy generation, and especially renewable energy resources.
The means are out there now to take a much greater percentage of our energy needs from the sun, from solar, and from wind, and even from wave action. And I would hope that we would move ahead in those areas much more rapidly than we have been.
Source: WCGU-FM interview on “Sound Off With Sasha”
, Jun 27, 2003
Disappearing glaciers make global warming obvious
Human beings do affect the environment and all you have to do is fly along the Andes and look at the disappearing glaciers down there
and you recognize that there is something called global warming and it’s just getting started as China and India modernize.
Source: Speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, NYC NY
, Feb 20, 2003
US energy overuse causes worldwide resentment
At a conference on terrorism, former NATO commander Wesley Clark attributed much of the world terrorism problem to a struggle between haves and have-nots.
There is widespread resentment over the fact that the US has less than 5 percent of the world’s population but consumes nearly 25 percent of its natural resources, Clark said.
Source: Michael Kilian, Chicago Tribune
, Aug 14, 2002
Page last updated: Oct 01, 2016