Answer This Question Honestly

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Would you be willing to pay $5 per gallon for gas if our troops were no longer killed or wounded in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East?

Try to answer it honestly. My answer is yes. Granted, I think we need to increase the price of gas (as much as I hate the idea) to force the creation of new forms of energy.

But my other big reason for saying yes is guys like Joey Bozek. Joey’s got one great golf swing. His left shoulder turns under his chin while his left hand extends the club back to his right before he turns his left side and launches the golf ball.

Notice I only mentioned Joey’s left side. That’s because it’s the only limb he still has. His right arm is missing from above the elbow and both legs are now prosthetics.

Joey is a U.S. Army vet of Iraq. An explosion nearly killed him. Great field work by medics and modern technology saved his life.

When I asked if he was angry, he said no. The blast didn’t damage any vital organs or cause any head injuries. “I can still work and live a good life,” he told me while he sat on a specially made golf cart that allows him to play golf.

After the 18 holes he and I just played in 90-plus Carolina hear and humidity, Joey was itching to go out again - to work on his game. He’s now shooting in the 90s. How good is that? The majority of Americans can’t shoot under 90.

This post is not about Joey. I have a full video interview with him that you will see soon here.

After my round of golf with Joey, and other wounded warriors, I was able to catch up on some reading. One of the articles was from Stratfor, an intelligence and information service. The title was The Geopolitics of $130 Oil written by George Friedman.

In the article, Friedman offers an initial outlook for the world economy as oil prices jump further. Friedman admits this is just a first look, so no one should be held to this. But his theory deserves your consideration.

His main point is this: As oil prices rise, oil-producing countries like Iraq and Iran will be more prone to producing oil rather than causing political and economic unrest. This could, in turn, increase the supply of oil thus reducing the cost of oil.

Insurgents and the lack of political will among Iraqi politicians have kept Iraq oil from flowing.

Iran’s oil revenues are ridiculously low because the regime in Tehran has kept all western drilling and refinery technology out. As a result, Iran’s vast reserves lay nearly dormant while Iran imports more gasoline than it makes and sells it at subsidized prices.

But Friedman surmises, though he admits this is not for certain, that these leaders and most of their followers will be more interested in economic gain rather than civil war either in their country (Iraq) or on their border (Iran). Thus, no need - or a reduced - need for American soldiers.

What do you think? Would you be willing to pay even more than what you’re paying now - if our troops could come home?

Understand I’m not saying the War in Iraq and Afghanistan were caused strictly by oil. Oil was definitely part of the equation. But clearly, terrorism and the rising threat of Islamic extremism were the main causes.

I also believe the war has helped us gain mounds of intelligence on the underground nefarious network that makes up these shadowy terrorist groups. Clearly, we’ve paid a price for this war. Clearly, many innocent Iraqis have also. We can answer the question of whether the war was worth it.

As for now, tell me how you feel about higher prices and our troops coming home.