America’s energy independence

By Michael K. Casler, Las Vegas

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | 2:02 a.m.

The criticism President Barack Obama is facing over the Ukraine situation is misplaced. Truth be told, at this point there isn’t much he can do.

Criticism, if it is to be leveled, should be about what we could have done over the past six years to place ourselves in a position to influence events via economics rather than military intervention.

The energy renaissance in this country should have been embraced by this administration rather than fought.

I support the president’s withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan and his restraint in other conflicts, but if we are going to be able to influence events without military power, we must become energy independent. That means developing fossil fuel sources as well as clean energy.

The Europeans hate Russian President Vladimir Putin but will not cross him because they depend on him to fill their need for energy.

We can develop our own energy resources to make us energy independent and allow us to supply energy to others, so they won’t be dependent on people like Putin.

It’s a controversial decision to embrace all kinds of energy development in this country, but in my view, this administration deserves criticism for passing on and even fighting an opportunity for us to become energy independent and be able to use that independence to shape world events and make the world a safer place for all.