An open letter to Congress: Don’t drink the oil man’s Kool-Aid.

Wrapping himself in the once-impermeable defense of “strengthening our national security”, President Bush delivered his magnum opus as a Texas oil man this morning, calling upon our legislature to lift the federal statute banning oil exploration off the nation’s coastline.

Bush implored Congress to open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve as well, myopically extolling the virtues of industry self-regulation. “Scientists have developed innovative techniques to reach Anwar’s oil with virtually no impact on the land or local wildlife,” Bush said. “I urge members of Congress to allow this remote region to bring enormous benefits to the American people.”

However, once the hyperbole has dissolved under the harsh light of reality, Bush’s proposal runs contrary to every vestige of logic in our new global energy economy.