Ace of Spades HQ

December 07, 2013

Energy weapons aren't always lasers or particle beams
— Purple Avenger

Mentioned in the the Pearl Harbor thread comments is how Japanese aggression was driven by natural resource constraints.

This Idealabs piece shows how its starting to happen again with US procedural foot dragging in getting LNG and coal exports to Asia permitted in a prompt manner as is required by WTO rules. Rules the US was a strong proponent of.

U.S. government delays in approving pending natural gas and coal export proposals Â“are likely to violateÂ” global trade rules, according to a report released this week by the National Association of Manufacturers.
The NAM commissioned former Democratic Congressman and World Trade Organization (WTO) judge James Bacchus to write the report, which urges the federal government to speed up the export approval process and lift regulatory barriers...

...Â“The United States has always been a strong advocate of these rules and has been forceful in challenging export restrictions imposed by other countries,Â” Bacchus writes, warning that if the export delays arenÂ’t addressed Â“the tables may be turned on the United States directly in the WTO, but also through other countries walking away from core principles that have long been critical to U.S. success in the global economy.Â” - ...

The National Association of Manufacturers report that get deeper into the legal aspects of what the Obama administration is doing is worth reading if you have a wonkish inclination.

Net, net, net? It seems Obama is doing everything possible to impede US energy export competitiveness, and that could have some pretty unpleasant ramifications down the road aside from the more obvious immediate jobs and trade balance issues.

I'm sure some clever coal engineering nerds will eventually figure out some way around this Obama foot dragging so they can still export product and not call it a "coal export". They could maybe do some semantic trickery like fine grind it and mix it up with up a thick bunker-C grade oil and call it an "oil export" of some sort and send it out of existing oil terminals. People can be pretty clever about working around government regulatory roadblocks when they have to. They shouldn't have to resort to that kind of trickery though.

With China having ~70% of its power supplied by coal, they're going to be getting it somewhere. There's very significant domestic Chinese production, but they still need some imports too. If that isn't the US, then its going to be someone else. If its anyone else, then US influence on Chinese policy/behavior is diminished.

With the US coal industry running at idle speed and domestic uses being crippled more and more by the Obama administration regulation every day, being able to export expeditiously is a big deal. Jobs depend on it.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 08:46 AM | Comments (71)
Post contains 464 words, total size 3 kb.

1 More incompetent govt . by college sophmores .

Posted by: awkward davies at December 07, 2013 07:29 AM (WK8VM)

2 Everyone stand back,, I'm in a twerking mood....

Posted by: Carlos Danger at December 07, 2013 07:30 AM (GjPnA)

3 If we want the Chinese to export rare earths, which we need, we'd better be willing to export coal..

Posted by: TOTUS at December 07, 2013 08:48 AM (nLIMC)

4 On the bright side, according to the sidebar link about what happens when AI becomes selfaware and selfteaching, this sort of thing might be moot soon.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at December 07, 2013 08:49 AM (Nsoq9)

5 If it produces something and makes money, they hate it.

Posted by: Meremortal at December 07, 2013 08:50 AM (1Y+hH)

6 And we are shutting down our coal driven power plants every day. And they will never be reopened as the utilities are cutting them up for scrap.

Posted by: Vic at December 07, 2013 08:52 AM (RlOaM)

7 Does Obama believe in the 12th Iman by any chance?

Posted by: nip at December 07, 2013 08:54 AM (jI23+)

8 Ooh, ace McGuffination post up at Hot Air.

Posted by: Meremortal at December 07, 2013 08:54 AM (1Y+hH)

9 It is official U.S. government policy now to make white males take one for the team. The other colors need to catch up.

Posted by: Steeping in a mindless media broth at December 07, 2013 08:54 AM (1/4XQ)

10 Posted by: Vic at December 07, 2013 12:52 PM (RlOaM) Rubs hands together with glee.

Posted by: Nat gas fracker at December 07, 2013 08:55 AM (1Y+hH)

11 Obama just needs his cronies' pockets lined in the process, that's all. Then it's quick and easy.

Posted by: --- at December 07, 2013 08:58 AM (MMC8r)

He won't be happy until we are a third world nation.

Posted by: garrett at December 07, 2013 09:00 AM (SvJdA)

13 As part of his Green Energy Economy, President Titleist wants to double our exports of sunlight and wind. He'll provide the wind.

Posted by: --- at December 07, 2013 09:01 AM (MMC8r)

14 Nat Gas Fracker @ 10 - Don't gloat; you'll eventually be fed to the alligators, too.

Posted by: butch at December 07, 2013 09:01 AM (EV3Uf)

15 I am aware of the impediments.
That stipulated?

Impeach
Convict
Remove

As many as you can. This stuff is sickening....

Posted by: backhoe at December 07, 2013 09:08 AM (ULH4o)

16 They could maybe do some semantic trickery like fine grind it and mix it up with up a thick bunker-C grade oil and call it an "oil export" of some sort High Carbon Petroleum.

Posted by: toby928© insists on talking about robots at December 07, 2013 09:08 AM (QupBk)

17 They could maybe do some semantic trickery like fine grind it and mix it up with up a thick bunker-C grade oil and call it an "oil export" of some sort Given chinese standards, they could call it 'baby formula.'

Posted by: --- at December 07, 2013 09:10 AM (MMC8r)

18 Maybe we could sell he coal hidden in cheap toys.

Posted by: eman at December 07, 2013 09:10 AM (AO9UG)

19 Obama is anticapitalist. Unless he gets a percentage.

If you want to export coal, you have to pay off Obama.

Posted by: Honor Your Leader at December 07, 2013 09:12 AM (alqRR)

20 Does it strike anyone else as odd that we haven't heard of anymore of obama's solar mis-ventures lately?

Posted by: soothsayer at December 07, 2013 09:14 AM (imJu1)

21 Mix it with some melamine and bag it as Dog Food for Export.

Posted by: garrett at December 07, 2013 09:14 AM (SvJdA)

22 Does it strike anyone else as odd that we haven't heard of anymore of obama's solar mis-ventures lately?

Posted by: soothsayer at December 07, 2013 01:14 PM (imJu1)

Are there any left? Thought the all went bankrupt.

Posted by: Honor Your Leader at December 07, 2013 09:15 AM (alqRR)

23 The v.large gas shipping facility planned for La. (prime motivation for That Pipeline) was cancelled last week by its investors, due to "uncertainties." Mission accomplished OFA. A least two biggish coal companies driven into bankruptcy have been purchased at fire-sale prices by the Chinese. Cleveland Cliffs, which was a shipping company only secondarily, their main holdings being iron-ore sources, has belonged to the Chinese for some time.

At a certain point, it's not happenstance anymore. The good news is, there will be jobs under the New Boss, even if "expectations" need to change a little. It's American management and American privately-held capital that are the enemies. But we don't really want to be self-sufficient, so what the hell.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 07, 2013 09:16 AM (xq1UY)

24 I have done my job well. I hopped on Facebook this morning and it looked like a bulletin board for the CPUSA! Me and the Pope sure got the LIVs riled up over the evils of capitalism!

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at December 07, 2013 09:17 AM (Dwehj)

25 High Carbon Petroleum.

The oil/coal slurry is a high performance "industrial lubricant", not a fuel. I repeat, NOT A FUEL. No warranty applies if the product is misused outside its labeling.

China has great need for "industrial lubricants".

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 07, 2013 09:19 AM (UVadJ)

China has great need for "industrial lubricants".

Really, who doesn't?

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 07, 2013 09:19 AM (SvJdA)

27 I'm sure China could start cranking out high-quality plastic nuclear reactors for, what, $25 ea?

Posted by: --- at December 07, 2013 09:20 AM (MMC8r)

28 Whatever. You will still pay dues, whether you're working or not. Your dues will continue to pay our movie star level salaries. We will still give what's left of your dues to democrats and you will, I say again will, vote for very D we tell you to. Any questions? Good.

Posted by: UMW bosses at December 07, 2013 09:23 AM (O7OxF)

29 Good morning everyone... That is all.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 07, 2013 09:23 AM (jJhhj)

30 Popiel Pocket Fission Plant

Posted by: garrett at December 07, 2013 09:24 AM (SvJdA)

31 There will be plenty of coal in everybody's stocking this Christmas. I've seen to that.

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at December 07, 2013 09:24 AM (Dwehj)

32 High Crimes at White House High ...

Posted by: Adriane... at December 07, 2013 09:24 AM (jdRXP)

33 Is that a Fission Plant in your Pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Posted by: Mae West's Sultriest Voice ... at December 07, 2013 09:26 AM (jdRXP)

34
China: We have many train car axles that require this lubricant. Really.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 07, 2013 09:27 AM (UVadJ)

35 That eagle video in the sidebar is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Posted by: Rabbit at December 07, 2013 09:27 AM (//hi2)

36 "Does it strike anyone else as odd that we haven't heard of anymore of obama's solar mis-ventures lately?" He's pivoted to WIND for the moment. Giving them a 30 year pass so they can keep killing bald eagles without paying fines.

Posted by: Nat gas fracker at December 07, 2013 09:29 AM (1Y+hH)

37 Coal + Me = Diamonds,

Posted by: Super Man at December 07, 2013 09:30 AM (GjPnA)

Posted by: Rabbit at December 07, 2013 01:27 PM (//hi2)

Raptors suck.

...and while we're at it. Could you tell your buddy, Foo Foo to quit bopping us on the head?

Posted by: Field Mouse at December 07, 2013 09:31 AM (SvJdA)

39 They could maybe do some semantic trickery>>

If the Iranians say they need it to make nukes will Barry let them have it?

Posted by: The Hickster at December 07, 2013 09:31 AM (TI3xG)

40 "People can be pretty clever about working around government regulatory roadblocks when they have to. They shouldn't have to resort to that kind of trickery though."

That was a reasonable assumption in the olden days, but things are a bit different now, with the battalions of government placemen, executive lawlessness, and the recent elimination of the Senate filibuster rule when confirming federal judges and presidential appointees.

Posted by: mrp at December 07, 2013 09:32 AM (HjPtV)

41 Go ahead enviros, stop fracking. 90% of all new wells for oil and gas are fracked now. Whatcha gonna burn if it ain't nat gas or oil?

Posted by: Natural gas fracker at December 07, 2013 09:36 AM (1Y+hH)

42 Raptors suck. >>

Which aint all bad if you mean these Raptors.

http://tinyurl.com/m8fhzw4

Posted by: The Hickster at December 07, 2013 09:36 AM (TI3xG)

43 Fox is doing its weekly Be Afraid of This Product, and make it illegal scene. With the dick doctor.

Posted by: Ook? at December 07, 2013 09:38 AM (FBkKA)

44 There's a high BTU content in hemp garbed hippies when you soak them in patchouli oil to get the fire going.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 07, 2013 09:39 AM (UVadJ)

45 I hope West Virginians finally figure out that they can't afford to elect Democrats.

Posted by: mrp at December 07, 2013 09:40 AM (HjPtV)

46 My kin are dying by the thousands at Wind Farms. Yes, we have echo-location ability and can easily fly right through the blade area while missing the blades. But the turbulence crushes our lungs. No more eating 60 mosquitos an hour and lowering disease rates. Green energy isn't.

Posted by: Bats Out Of Hell at December 07, 2013 09:43 AM (1Y+hH)

47 Why does West Virginia keep voting to be raped?

Posted by: FlatbushJoe at December 07, 2013 09:43 AM (ZPrif)

48 It's gonna be decades righting the domestic and international harm this assclown has caused.

On a side note, if one guy can cause so much harm, shouldn't it be possible for the opposite? Next time anyone from 'our team' gets into elected office, I want them to go balls to the wall (I know, I know). Two should be playing this game! And next time 'our team' gets both Congress and the WH, I wanna see a damn 'fundamental transformation' to the good.

Posted by: Tonic Dog at December 07, 2013 09:44 AM (X/+QT)

Vaginal wool exports are up.

Posted by: Minnfidel at December 07, 2013 09:47 AM (bXdYS)

50 Why does West Virginia keep voting to be raped?

Posted by: FlatbushJoe at December 07, 2013 01:43 PM (ZPrif)

Why did some red states vote for Romney, but elect a Dem senator?

Posted by: Ook? at December 07, 2013 09:48 AM (FBkKA)

51 "On a side note, if one guy can cause so much harm, shouldn't it be possible for the opposite?" Working your career(s) and saving enough to retire is a delicate operation. The people who have lost years of gainful employment and decent income due to 50 years of stupidity capped off by the Destroyer can't make it up. They are toast.

Posted by: Bats Out Of Hell at December 07, 2013 09:48 AM (1Y+hH)

52 In other news Nelson Mandeada is room temp. Well, cooler than a burning tire anyway.

Posted by: Minnfidel at December 07, 2013 09:52 AM (bXdYS)

53 Coal is bad for the environment, and no one cares about those sister-fucking hillbillies in West Virginia or Kentucky. Kentucky must be punished for electing a Republican racist like Mitch McConnell since he is an enemy of our President.

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein from Brattleboro, Vermont at December 07, 2013 09:53 AM (1RIcI)

54 The whole www seems to be running slow today.

Posted by: Ook? at December 07, 2013 09:54 AM (FBkKA)

Obama,

"We're going to bankrupt coal"......Coal states......Doh K. We'll vote for you!

Posted by: Minnfidel at December 07, 2013 09:56 AM (bXdYS)

56 50 On a side note, if one guy can cause so much harm, shouldn't it be possible for the opposite? Posted by: Tonic Dog at December 07, 2013 01:44 PM (X/+QT) ----------------------------- How long does it take to build a cathedral? How long does it take to blow it up? Destruction is quick and easy. Rebuilding? May be impossible.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 07, 2013 09:58 AM (dfYL9)

57 You know, I don't know which species is worse, Burke. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamned percentage.

Posted by: Ellen Ripley at December 07, 2013 09:59 AM (v+ojV)

58 The Feds are allowing windmills to kill eagles. Gee, that's too bad.

Posted by: Rabbit at December 07, 2013 10:02 AM (//hi2)

59 45 There's a high BTU content in hemp garbed hippies when you soak them in patchouli oil to get the fire going. Posted by: Purp at December 07, 2013 01:39 PM (UVadJ) Burn 'em like pulverized coal.

Posted by: BignJames at December 07, 2013 10:03 AM (j7iSn)

60 But Obama can embargo our energy from world markets with the stroke of a pen. Posted by: Ugg Boots

Hey! I set the precedent when I was the president! Not to mention that I was the first Democrat to win the presidency!

Posted by: Tom Jefferson at December 07, 2013 10:11 AM (HjPtV)

61 Nelson Mandela. You all surely have seen pictures of his cell. Clean, airy, not so bad. He had decent food too, all the books and writing materials he wanted, many visitors. This is funny. There were actually some Cubans who thought Mandela, given his own suffering as a prisoner, might speak out for the political prisoners in El Morro and the Isle of Pines---those dark sewers of the Revolution, where you compete with rats for putrid, moldy scraps of food and live in your own waste. They thought Mandela might use his friendship with Castro, that between the hugs and effusive praise he might plead on the Cuban prisoners' behalf. Right. Sure. I appreciate Mandela's courage in fighting apartheid. I appreciate that he worked for reconciliation and tried to keep SA from sinking into a genocidal, anti-white hellhole. But past that, he was a willing soldier in the Devil's army. (rant off)

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 07, 2013 10:17 AM (dfYL9)

62 This is another hippie mafia method of acquisition. You drive property into the gutter financially then scoop it up when it's too financially toxic to keep via some fascist crony dispensation that indemnifies your gang. It has happened over and over again here in Austin. All kids of acreage made unusable because of some bird or bug only to be bought later and developed into suburban neighborhoods by the very gang who led the effort to condemn it.

Posted by: Mr. Wizard at December 07, 2013 10:18 AM (MhA4j)

63 On a side note, if one guy can cause so much harm, shouldn't it be possible for the opposite? Next time anyone from 'our team' gets into elected office, I want them to go balls to the wall (I know, I know). Two should be playing this game! And next time 'our team' gets both Congress and the WH, I wanna see a damn 'fundamental transformation' to the good. Posted by: Tonic Dog at December 07, 2013 01:44 PM (X/+QT) They NEVER have the balls. The Liberal Democrat media always neuters them. Repeal the Hollywood tax cuts! Sue the Networks into bankruptcy!

Posted by: D-Lamp at December 07, 2013 10:30 AM (bb5+k)

64 Every country in Asia gins up ways to increase exports. Only in America do we find ways to stop exports.

Posted by: sexypig at December 07, 2013 10:47 AM (dZQh7)

65 On a side note, if one guy can cause so much harm, shouldn't it be possible for the opposite?

Burning a house down that took months to build only take minutes...so no.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 07, 2013 10:49 AM (UVadJ)

Not to refight another part of WWII (twice in one morning), but the embargoes against Japan were in response to specific acts of war by Japan, not out of the blue. (checking failing memory) ...... I think the metals embargo was about the war in China, and the oil embargo was in response to the invasion of then-French Indochina in 1940 after the fall of France.

And of course the fact that there could even be a meaningful embargo of Japan meant that it, of course, could and did acquire resources the normal way, via trade and imports. The resource grab from 1931-onwards was a choice, not a natural event. And one has to consider the overall ideological/political/cultural situation in Japan during the period. Recall that as recently as WW I, Japan had played ball with the western powers (victors, Allies) and the League of Nations, and had even been rewarded with mandates in former German Pacific islands.

Posted by: non-purist at December 07, 2013 11:00 AM (afQnV)

67 Geez, it's tough for the anti-SMOD wing to get some traction around here. ha!

But seriously, think of it this way: Leftists have spent 50+ years building *their cathedral*...shouldn't be hard for us to burn it down. For example....

Day 1: "Every fourth page in the USC is hereby repealed." Burn!
Day 2: "Every other page in the bog ol' book of federal regulations is hereby repealed." Burn!
Day 3: "Ms. Lerner, we have a warrant for your arrest." I'll be in my bunk.
Day 4: "The new DOE standards have been updated: Years K-12 shall consist of 50% approved lessons of civics, the CONUS, FPs, etc" Burn!...er, re-Educate!

(I'm just rant/fantasizing, but whatevs.)

Posted by: Tonic Dog at December 07, 2013 11:04 AM (X/+QT)

Purp @ 68, PJ O'Rourke (as often is the case) said it well: "it's one thing to burn down the outhouse, another to install indoor plumbing" (in his Nicarauga/Sandinista article from the 1980s).

But speaking of this situation - how does one have any serious optimism about a country that is so degraded, so (effectively) stupid, so unserious, that its "government" can openly declare war on the most important and vital components of the real economy (energy) and get away with it? Get away with it both legally and politically.

It's been said many times here before by many, but I still cannot believe the rapidity with which the US went from a serious, vital country (to be sure already hobbled by decades' accretion of nonsense) to what it is today.

O-care may (MAY) actually induce a reaction in organism, as at least a few people finally react to having their toes pounded with a hammer. But they've been slowly boiling frogs (mixing my metaphors aggressively) for so long on energy matters. The general lack of understanding of economics and basic engineering and science when it comes to energy are stunning - and as always, I speak here not of the LIVs but the HDVs ("educated" high-disinformation voters).

Posted by: non-purist at December 07, 2013 11:07 AM (afQnV)

69 I want a coal heater, but they're not cheap and used ones are hard to find. I intend to burn a mixture of coal, tires, and used motor oil.

Posted by: Tara Sackoff at December 07, 2013 11:22 AM (JQuNB)

70 Seems more like a feature than a bug.

Posted by: TimothyJP at December 07, 2013 11:49 AM (ep2io)

71 "More incompetent govt . by college sophomores . Posted by: awkward davies" Nope, awkward, this is by plan. Japan was squeezed this same way in 1941. The Feral Gov't is trying to set up China into the same pincer to spark WWIII. And they want it to come home this time.

Posted by: R Daneel at December 07, 2013 07:40 PM (yblXl)

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