Myths in offshore drilling debate

A Sun-Times commentary by Faiz Shakir titled the "Myths About Offshore Drilling Abound" on July 19 discloses three myths of the debate about the need to rescind an 18-year presidential moratorium on offshore drilling.

Faiz Shakir, a researcher for the Progress Report, is timely as the myths sneak into the truth column by high-level Republican political conservatives and by well meaning letters to the editor authors.

Conservatives from Dick Cheney and on down the pipe line to 10th Congressional Rep. Mark Kirk have used this claim to gain support for expanding the offshore drilling: "China is taking American oil off the coast of Cuba, just 60 miles off the coast of Florida" is a false statement. Vice President Cheney later acknowledged it is simply not true.

In a local letter to the Daily Herald on July 19th, the statement was used again.

The writer, claimed a disconnect in Congress on the reality of the oil shortage.

From my perspective, the reality can be found at www.factcheck.org.

Sue Walton

Rolling Meadows