Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Save the Earth: Drill in the US

Letting other countries produce oil cures nothing: Krauthammer

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 1, 2008 12:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – Asked why she so vehemently opposes offshore drilling, Nancy Pelosi recently replied, “I’m trying to save the planet.” Which is a nice thought, Charles Krauthammer writes in the Washington Post, but it’s completely illogical. We’re not saving the planet by leaving the drilling to the likes of Nigeria, where corruption and neglect routinely lead to spills, pipeline explosions, and illegal siphoning.

Contrast that with the US’ Gulf of Mexico rigs, which withstood Hurricane Katrina without spilling a drop, and you’ll see the inanity of Pelosi’s argument. "The United States has the highest technology to ensure the safest drilling," Krauthammer argues. "Additionally, the United States has one of the most extensive and least corrupt regulatory systems on the planet."

An oil worker climbs the steps of a new oil rig being drilled in the Sakhir, Bahrain, desert during sunset  Thursday, July 24, 2008.
An oil worker climbs the steps of a new oil rig being drilled in the Sakhir, Bahrain, desert during sunset Thursday, July 24, 2008.   (AP Photo)
In this Nov. 30, 2006 file photo, oil drills are seen in Maracaibo Lake in Venezuela's oil rich Zulia state.
In this Nov. 30, 2006 file photo, oil drills are seen in Maracaibo Lake in Venezuela's oil rich Zulia state.   (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch, file)
In this March 28, 2006 file photo, the Discoverer Deep Seas drill ship sits on station off the coast of Louisiana as Chevron drills for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
In this March 28, 2006 file photo, the Discoverer Deep Seas drill ship sits on station off the coast of Louisiana as Chevron drills for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne