Leaving Libya is complicated

Some people say that we have no business in Libya. Their reasons vary, some say they deserve their own wars, others say that “unimportant” countries like Libya shoudn’t be a hole for U.S. resources. These reasons I understand and respect. Others say that it’s too expensive.

Now I’m not saying that cruise missiles and jet fuel is cheap, neither is. On the other hand neither is competing with Europe for middle-eastern oil. Though Libya accounts for less than one percent of American oil imports, the same cannot be said for Europe. Over 10 percent of European oil imports are Libyan.

This means that if Libya suddenly became unable to produce any oil, that a huge oil vacuum would be formed in Europe. As much as I wish that I could say that America’s oil providers would be loyal to us, and allow us to continue purchasing oil from them at an uninflated price, we all know that wouldn’t happen. What is far more likely is that they would play off U.S. and European oil dependency against each other, raising the price greatly.

So, even though continuing the war against Libya will be expensive against the U.S., pulling out now could be far more expensive.

Josh Hauck

Wauconda