Stevens States That Iraq is Using Oil as a Weapon Against the U.S.

Reminds Senate that Opening ANWR is a National Security Issue

April 8, 2002

On the Senate floor today, Senator Ted Stevens told the Senate that Iraq is using oil as a weapon against the United States; that we are on the verge of another oil embargo; and that by purchasing Iraqi oil, the U.S. is helping fund suicide bombings in Israel.

"We have seen that Iraq is using oil as a weapon to deal with our policies with regard to the Middle East. Last year the United States imported nearly 287 million barrels of oil from Iraq. The average price of crude oil in 2001 was $23.93 per barrel. That means the United States paid Iraq $6.58 billion for its oil last year," Stevens said. "The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq confirmed last week that Saddam Hussein has paid $25,000 to the families of each of the Palestinian suicide bombers – in other words, we're giving Iraq the cash to reward those who are committing suicide and bombing innocent people in Israel."

Stevens went on to remind the Senate of the political turmoil in Venezuela, a major supplier of U.S. oil imports. "I want the Senate to know that Venezuela today announced a multi-day strike at the government-owned oil-producing facilities. Venezuela is one of the top-three suppliers of oil to the United States. The President this morning expressed his concern that a rise in gasoline prices would slow down our economic recovery," Stevens said.

Stevens reminded his colleagues that the Senate is close to a vote similar to the one that took place when Alaska finally obtained permission to go ahead with the oil pipeline. "At that time, even though the then-Majority Leader Mike Mansfield opposed our amendment, even though the Committee Chairman, Senator Jackson, opposed our amendment, no filibuster was threatened, no filibuster took place during consideration of the oil pipeline amendment. Why? Because we all knew then, as we all should know now, that oil is a matter of national security.

"I do hope that everyone will understand that the Energy bill has to be considered, the ANWR amendment adopted, and the bill sent to the President as soon as possible. If we had been permitted to proceed with ANWR as we sought to when President Bush, the 41st President of the United States, was in office we'd have ANWR oil on line now," concluded Stevens.

http://www.senate.gov/~stevens/press.htm