Obama Rejects Keystone XL Oil Pipeline

Once at full capacity, the Keystone XL oil pipeline  would have delivered over 300 million barrels of Canadian oil to the U.S. annually. That's about 40% of what we import from the Persian Gulf, according to the U.S.Energy Information Administration.  

I am not an Obama-hater. I am not among those who seize on every opportunity to find fault with his decisions. But I have to question his judgment in blocking construction of this project. Personally, I would like to see us reduce our imports from the Persian Gulf by 40%, climate change notwithstanding. I'd like to see the U.S. increase its national security by importing oil (even dirty tar-sands oil) from friendly Canada than from Saudi Arabia. Reminder: Saudi Arabia was the home of most of the September 11 attackers. 

Let's be realistic: Americans aren't going to stop driving their gasoline-powered cars and trucks any time soon. The threat from radical Islamists isn't going to get better for the foreseeable future; perhaps not even in my lifetime. Under those circumstances,  reducing dependence on Middle Eastern oil has to be a bigger concern than climate change -- doesn't it? 

Well, apparently not, if you're the President of the United States. He's placed climate change leadership ahead of our national energy security.  

Link: 

Citing Climate Change, Obama Rejects Construction of Keystone XL Oil Pipeline

New York Times, Nov. 7, 2015