After a two-week recess, US Congress reconvened this past week to resume work on a wide array of issues. The White House is itself returning to the Washington fray after a hiatus in the American hinterlands, where President Bush and his top lieutenants pushed Social Security reform. Since the initial volley of post-Inauguration enthusiasm, political developments in the US have been few and far between. Reform and democratization in Middle East moved to the back burner. Public and media attention has turned to the Michael Jackson trial, the Terri Schiavo saga, and Pope John Paul II’s passing.
While Americans are temporarily indulging in these info-tainment stories, the Bush administration and Congress must move quickly and adroitly move to recapture lost momentum and address pressing issues, many of which pertain to the Arab world. If not, the US risks missing an opportunity to influence political developments in the Middle East and tackle the growing energy crisis. Washington’s lost focus also undermines President Bush’s agenda and impairs Congress’ ability to pass meaningful legislation, creating a leadership vacuum that will inevitably result in debates based on rhetoric rather than substance.
The four-cornered developments in the Arab world earlier this year — the Iraqi poll, Palestinian elections, turbulence in Lebanon, and political reform in Egypt and Saudi Arabia — gave Bush considerable momentum on the international front. Bush himself indicated the region’s development is a priority. But in this case, the follow-up is far more important than what preceded it. And thus far, the American reaction to real-time developments has been slow. Perhaps patience is the wiser course, but speed is essential to stay a step ahead. Bombings in Beirut and Cairo, discussions of massive, new, Israeli settlement construction, and continued violence in Iraq are all bad omens.
But the lack of initiative on energy is most harmful to the average American. Currently, the average price for a gallon of gasoline stands at a record high of $2.30. This is 40 to 50 cents higher than last year’s lofty price, and the price is expected to soar during this summer’s driving season. The Christian Science Monitor reported that Americans would spend $5 billion more per month on gasoline than they did a year ago. This is a considerable hit on the American pocketbook.
Republicans and Democrats alike have failed to come up with a viable solution to the energy problem. The last major energy bill was passed with little fanfare and much bickering during the Carter administration. Republicans, including President Bush, base their energy strategy on harvesting more fossil fuels, primarily by opening the spigot to Alaskan oil. Democrats have largely fixed their proposals on conservation and environmental safeguards. The result has been stalemate. Since 2001, the House of Representatives has spent 180 hours on floor and committee debate, all for naught. There has been a lack of consensus over the causes, let alone the remedies.
Both parties have failed to acknowledge some basic truths:
1). Oil is a supply-and-demand commodity. Americans may want cheaper petrol, but they continue to purchase SUVs and other fuel-inefficient automobiles. Also, oil is in increased demand around the globe, not just in the US.
2). Oil flowing from the Middle East must be refined, and Americans face a refining problem which exceeds the supply problem. There has not been a new refinery built in the US since 1976.
3). The US has not seriously invested in nor demanded more fuel-efficient technology. Further, Americans have continued to purchase big cars requiring excessive amounts of oil.
4). Political instability leads to price spikes. American policies — at least according to the UN’s latest Arab Human Development Report — have contributed to the region’s volatility.
Last week, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing on the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It is a comprehensive bill, with many provisions. Members from both political parties made insightful statements about America’s energy woes. For example, Chairman Joe Barton of Texas noted that while America needs to explore new technology, it must also admit that its economy is based, for the time being, on oil. While the hearing in itself was a positive development, few expect the bill to pass this year. There are far too many special interests involved — too many cooks in the kitchen.
The failure to pass energy legislation has led some to search for scapegoats. Unsurprisingly, Saudi Arabia and the OPEC nations are prime targets, with critics conjuring up faded images of wealthy oil sheikhs. NOPEC (No Oil Producing Exporting Cartels Act of 2005) has been introduced in the House and Senate. The legislation attempts to punish OPEC for alleged price gouging. “OPEC’s hunger for ill-gotten gains is astounding. Its appetite can never be satisfied...while demand is high and supplies are cut, that means prices will increase. Nonetheless, OPEC cut production. This is an outrage,” stated Republican Sen. Mike Dewine, an author of the legislation. In the absence of unambiguous and continuous leadership on the gambit of regional issues, one can expect more NOPECs to emerge — on economic and political matters. Unless Bush and the congressional leadership guide the agenda — not just craft it — few constructive policies will be adopted anytime soon.
— David Dumke is principal of the Washington-based MidAmr Group.
