Pipeline tied to our security, success

M. Favil West, Henderson

Monday, Nov. 28, 2011 | 2:03 a.m.

Veterans Day is a time for Americans to thank veterans for their willingness to serve and sacrifice. I will remember Veterans Day 2011 as a day when we witnessed a lack of courage on the part of our president to protect our nation’s economic and national security. Headlines were dominated by the administration’s decision to delay the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The Keystone XL Pipeline would enable the United States to become less reliant on foreign oil, stabilize the price of oil, provide for our national security and help our economy. The approval of this pipeline sustains the purpose of our veterans’ sacrifices through sourcing our oil from Canada, a country with whom we have a friendly trading relationship.

The State Department has spent nearly three years analyzing the Keystone XL Pipeline, including considering multiple route alternatives and weighing the risks of any pipeline spill. The department deemed the other routes unacceptable and the proposed pipeline safe. We should listen to the experts and not to the people who consider blades of grass equal to our economy, our security and, most importantly, the lives of Americans.

I strongly support the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and grow increasingly discouraged each day the administration lets pass without approving it. By not allowing it, we continue to demean the sacrifices made by our veterans.

The author served in the Air Force and is the co-chairman of the Nevada Energy Forum.