Anyone know if the U.S. military machine itself has any impact on fuel markets? In other words, could the war in Iraq and Afghanistan be having an effect on global fuel demand? Thanks

http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid939.php

Got the answer for you. 200 million gallons per year. Easy to back-work to barrels of oil.

No telling how much fuel is consumed during "high usage" periods compared to just training.

I suspect that is why we are building the three permanent military bases right on top of the oil fields of Iraq. I recall reading that we are getting a 25 year lease on the land. The military might build their own refineries right there on the base for military fuel. It wouldn't surprise me. It is actually quite smart.

I scan plans & specs ( building plans) for almost all of the construction here in central Iowa and i hate to say this guys, but all of the IANG (Iowa Air National Guard) and National Guard are seriously beefing up their systems, 2-3mil worth of beefing up and these towns where the IANG& NG are about as big as 1 NYC block no joke, but i don't know if i'm reading to much into it. What do you guys think?

Maybe it's because of the way Homeland Security funding was allocated. Because of the way our Congress is set up (every state, no matter how small, gets 2 senators), small states got a lot more money per capita than large states. So states like Wyoming can barely spend all the money pouring in, while states like NY and California don't even have enough money to pay their first responders.

I am not sure what is happening in your area. However, I think the resource wars are on the horizon. We also need more troops to rotate through Iraq.

http://tinyurl.com/jkj1

It all depends on how much down time the troops get. And if you want to keep troops in Germany and South Korea.

For some reason, the words "Command & Conquer" come to mind ... *click* "Building in progress..." *click* *click* *click*

To further contextualize the overstretch of U.S. military forces, we need to look at military operations outside Iraq. There are ongoing large operations of over 4,000 troops in former Yugoslavia and 8,500 in Afghanistan. The U.S. is maintaining 37,000 troops in Korea and 71,000 in Europe—mostly Germany. Of the 480,000 people in the U.S. Army, over 300,000 are now deployed overseas.

But the U.S. is also involved militarily in training the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with 3rd Special Forces Group—supplemented on a variant basis with Marines—operating in Liberia, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Senegal, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Mali. 1st Special Forces is expanding operations in the Philippines, also using Marines, and maintaining their base in Okinawa. 7th Special Forces is almost running the Colombian military at this point in the civil war there. 10th Special Forces and 5th Special Forces have been busy in the Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

I loved that game, it was a classic. Miss the good old PC gaming days.

Without a draft, yes we are overstretched.

With a draft, not on your life. We could easily take over three or four more rich oil countries.

We may not need a draft if the economy collapses and millions loose their jobs. Join the Army & guard an oil field for a roof over your head and 3 hot meals a day. People will sign up when/if it gets bad enough. Remember, those recruiters aren't always honest.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Description of a typical raw recruit:
* Combat experience limited to 1st person shooter games
* Last place of deployment: A classroom
* Skills: Frying, sweeping, checking out items and/or washing cars

Description of a Middle-east soldier:
*Lived since birth under the most anal retentive, unforgiving, religious fundamentalist region of the world. You break a rule, you lose a limb or die.
*More or less likely fought since they could walk. Learned how to handle weapons before they knew how to read or write
*One of the harshest, most deprived environments you could possibly imagine living in. Natural adjustment to scarce water, intense heat and camel spiders (those things would give "Alien" a run for its money.)

Who would you bet on?

Not true, Saddam's rule was very secular and he tried to reduce power of religion. Religion plays major role only since US attack..

Don't think there will be too much of a problem getting a draft implemented in the event of economic meltdown. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Humans beings most basic instinct is survival and having a shelter, food and warmth provided by the most powerful fighting force the world has ever seen in exchange for risking your neck in conflict will be seen as a worthwile deal by most people in a post-economic-crash world.