The need for U.S. energy security has never been placed in clearer focus for the government or the public, but the debate continues on what to do about a comprehensive U.S. energy policy. That's why the voice of the oil industry has never been needed more, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham told members of the Independent Petroleum Association of America at its annual meeting recently. "We are living in the shadow of the events of September 11 and that has changed everything," Abraham said. "It would be a dereliction of duty for this administration to ignore the connection between September 11 and energy security. We don't have time to debate whether we need production or conservation-we should increase both, to ensure energy security in this dangerous and uncertain world." Strong leadership is required, and that means telling the public the truth about energy issues, even admitting past failures, and putting energy issues ahead of short-term political matters, he said. "We are a nation at war and we have been brought face to face with our energy vulnerabilities. Energy security is no longer an abstract thing. There is a connection between energy security and national security-we can't run our fleet or our aircraft without energy. And we need to sustain the global economy, which means continued access to energy so that we can continue our leadership in the world." At the same time, no one is served by artificial markets-a message he has been delivering to oil ministers around the world. Although drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will not make the U.S. independent of foreign supplies of crude, it contains roughly the equivalent of 10 years' worth of imports from the Middle East and 50 years of imports from Iraq alone. "The IPAA is on the front lines of the war against terrorism, because you are the very people who can increase oil and gas production. And, we need your voices raised. Contact the Senate, help us get the message across."

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