How Resource Wars Will Keep Military Spending High

January 13, 2012 by IPB

In this op-ed from author Michael Klare, whose upcoming book The Race for What’s Left: The Global Scramble for the World’s Last Resources promises to deliver a fascinating if terrifying analysis of what’s in store for 21st century resource wars, we see a snapshot of the three hotspots for conflict between the U.S. and Iran, China and Russia over control of oil and gas trade. He writes:

“With energy demand on the rise and sources of supply dwindling, we are, in fact, entering a new epoch — the Geo-Energy Era — in which disputes over vital resources will dominate world affairs. In 2012 and beyond, energy and conflict will be bound ever more tightly together, lending increasing importance to the key geographical flashpoints in our resource-constrained world.
…
In the new Geo-Energy Era, the control of energy and of its transport to market will lie at the heart of recurring global crises. This year, keep your eyes on three energy hot spots in particular: the Strait of Hormuz, the South China Sea, and the Caspian Sea basin.”

The only hope in this dire picture is that people power will force governments to stop serving the corporate interests of big oil and the military-industrial complex, and start investing in alternative energy sources. Check out the doomsday scenario here.