HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Business

May 20, 2001, 11:04AM

Energy secretary predicts no oil embargo Reuters News Service

WASHINGTON -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said today he does not believe there will be another oil embargo because of the current tensions in the Middle East.

Appearing on the "Fox News Sunday" program, Abraham said: "The OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia in particular, have always said that they aren't going to use oil as a bargaining chip. I take ... their word on that."

At the same time, defending Bush's controversial energy plan that called for expanding U.S. coal, oil and nuclear power production, including in Alaska's pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Abraham said: "But I think nevertheless, the instability of foreign sources justifies increasing domestic production. That's why ANWR makes sense and more supply development at home makes sense."

The energy secretary, a former U.S. senator, restated that the United States was "not going to beg for oil."

"What we are going to do is diversify supplies here at home. It's pretty logical that countries are going to ... do things in their best interest, that's what the OPEC countries are doing. It's about time America did that, developing more supply here in the United States."

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), May 21, 2001

Answers

Is he saying that Iraq and Iran, who have pledged their support to the Palestinians and Arafat, won't stop pumping ven if the US is helping Israel in a regional war? How about Sudan, Yemen, Bahrain, and the rest? Saudi and Kuwait may (repeat: may) keep the wells going for us, but they can't make up for the loss.

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), May 21, 2001.