Allegations Surface, BP May Have Arranged Release Of Terrorist For Oil Deal

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) sent a letter Tuesday to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to investigate reports accusing BP of arranging the release of convicted terrorist Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in order to finalize a $900 million drilling deal with Libya.

“If BP is found to have helped free this mass murderer… [then] any money it makes off that oil is blood money,” said Menendez during a press conference Wednesday.

The Scottish government freed the Megrahi on compassionate grounds in August 2009, 2 years after BP started exploring the possibilities of drilling in Libya. The quartet of Senators is pushing the State Department to investigate the situation and to reveal exactly what role BP played in Megrahi’s release. 

“We have a clear message for BP. Until this deal is properly investigated this project off the coast of Libya should not break ground. If BP is truly dealing in good faith and has nothing to hide, it should cooperate with such an investigation,” said Lautenberg.

BP is set to begin drilling off the Gulf of Sidra next month.

Drilling Alone Won't Solve Energy Crisis, Says Interior Secretary

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the recent decision to allow for new oil and gas exploration off America's coasts will help fulfill U.S. energy needs and improve the economy. However, according to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, offshore drilling alone will not help the U.S. achieve energy independence.

“We expect just in the eastern Gulf alone that approximately a hundred million barrels of oil will come in,” said Salazar during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. “But ... it’s still a relatively minor amount to the amount of oil and natural gas we import from other sources.”

“We don’t believe that we are ever going to drill our way to energy independence,” he added.

Obama Announces Plan To Explore Offshore Drilling

President Barack Obama announced today that his administration will approve oil and gas exploration off parts of the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

"Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth, produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we’re going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy," said the President during remarks delivered on Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

The announcement marks the end of a long-standing federal moratorium on offshore drilling, and comes as somewhat of a surprise to both critics and supporters of Mr. Obama, who until now has opposed the idea of opening up U.S. coastlines to drilling for energy resources.

The initiative involves a slight compromise between the administration and environmentalists. While government agencies will be allowed to conduct studies in parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Gulf of Mexico, no exploration will be allowed to take place in Alaska's Bristol Bay, considered an oil haven by drilling advocates.

"My administration will consider potential new areas for development in the mid and south Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, while studying and protecting sensitive areas in the Arctic. That’s why we’ll continue to support development of leased areas off the North Slope of Alaska, while protecting Alaska’s Bristol Bay," said Mr. Obama.

The President's slightly modified energy strategy will likely be viewed as an attempt to appease groups on each side of the issue. Oil and natural gas companies, who may have a chance in two years to lease areas the government deems suitable for drilling, should embrace the decision. On the other hand, environmental organizations, who oppose increased domestic drilling, should appreciate the administration's continued attempts to promote the development of renewable energy sources, an initiative Mr. Obama acknowledged on Wednesday.

"With less than 2 percent of oil reserves, but more than 20 percent of world consumption, drilling alone cannot come close to meeting our long-term energy needs, and that for the sake of the planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now."

Blunt (R-Mo.) returns to Washington to join GOP protest

The protesting House Republicans held another press conference calling for an immediate vote on their American Energy Act, despite Congress being out for a five-week vacation. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) returned from Missouri to participate in the protest. Blunt said it takes only five minutes for a representative in their home state to realize that the most important and urgent issue is the economy.

The Congressmen at the news conference posed with tire pressure gauges to mock Senator Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) new push for Americans to properly inflate their tires for better gas mileage. In contrast to that plan, Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) said the Republicans' American Energy Act is a comprehensive bill that would not just drill for oil, but also reward people for conservation, fund renewable energy, and maintain traditional energy.

Congressman Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) said his office created a new e-mail address to handle the massive influx of complaints from citizens all around the country, PainAtthePump@mail.house.gov. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said that Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) attempt to "shut us up" the House Republicans has only energized them to continue their protest. Blunt said that although he is not sure there will be a vote soon, there will be one in November. He anticipates the gas crisis turning into a complete energy crisis in the next 90 days once the winter heating bills arrive at American houses. Garrett said that since Pelosi is unwilling to step up and lead on the energy issue, the Republicans are.

GOP frustrated with dead-end drilling debate

Congressmen Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) held a pen and pad briefing on the recent American Energy Tour and used the opportunity to express their frustration with Democrats' anti-drilling position.

Putnam said that America has the tools it needs to solve the energy crisis, but requires new leadership to achieve energy independence. He said the Republicans plan on unveiling a bill that is an "all-of-the-above" approach to the oil crisis that includes measures on conservation, renewables, clean nuclear technology, and domestic exploration for oil. He said the bill would embody Republicans' open-mindedness and leadership, a stark contrast to Democrats' constant denial of even debate on the topic of drilling.

McCarthy said that in his recent tour of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), he learned that a key oil transmission line is not used to capacity and if exploration is not done, great amounts of oil will be lost. He said the Democrats' constant denial of drilling tells the American people that oil prices will continue to go up. Putnam added that Republicans are constantly offering what they are willing to do, while the Democrats only say what they are unwilling to do. He said his party is determined to force a vote on energy issues before the Congress breaks for August.