If I was truly suspicious, I'd suspect the BP decision to shut down an oil pipeline in Alaska was part of an effort to give us an excuse to open up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in anticipation of action against Iran.
It will take some time to get the oil flowing from the reserve and absent an innocent reason to do so, it might tip our hand. But with a reason--the Alaska pipeline shut down--we can start the process of getting oil flowing out of the SPR. And once flowing, we can max it out rather than just replace the Alaska oil.
If true, then the Alaska pipeline would be put back in action very quickly once military action or a revolution starts in Iran in order to add oil to the world supply to make up in part for Iranian stoppages. And if the rest of the world has oil stockpiled by oil companies and countries, we might make up Iran's oil exports for a while.
If I was truly suspicious, of course.
It could just all be as it appears.
About Me
- Brian J. Dunn
- I live and write in Ann Arbor, Michigan. University of Michigan AB and MA from Eastern Michigan University. One term in the Michigan Army National Guard. Former American history instructor and retired nonpartisan research analyst. I write on Blogger and Substack. Various military and private journals have published my occasional articles on military subjects. See "My Published Works" on the TDR web version or under the mobile version drop-down menu for citations and links.
