Robert Bryce's work has appeared in numerous publications including Atlantic Monthly, Slate, New York Times, Washington Post and The Guardian. A contributing writer for the Texas Observer and managing editor of Energy Tribune, he lives in Austin.

Headlines

Gore's Zero Emissions = Zero Sense August 2007 Energy Tribune
It is the nature of civilization to use energy and it's the nature of liberalism to feel bad about it. That's my conclusion after finally sitting down to watch 'An Inconvenient Truth,' the Oscar-winning documentary that has turned Al Gore into a rock star (and rock music promoter). Here's my review: it is an overly simplistic look at a complex problem and it concludes with one of the single stupidest statements ever put on film.
Biofuels: The Water Problem August 2007 Energy Tribune The latest indictment of the biofuels madness concerns the copious quantities of water needed to produce them. In late June, two Colorado scientists, Jan F. Kreider, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado, and Peter S. Curtiss, a Boulder-based engineering consultant, published a paper which found that producing one gallon of corn ethanol requires the consumption of 170 gallons of water. An Interview with Vaclav Smil July 2007 Energy Tribune
The word 'polymath' best describes Vaclav Smil. A distinguished professor of energy and environmental studies at the University of Manitoba, he has published 25 books, most on various aspects of energy. It's no exaggeration to say that Smil may be the world's smartest writer about energy and the challenges associated with energy production. The Manpower Crunch July 2007 Energy Tribune
Forget peak oil. The biggest long-term problem for the energy business may be an acute shortage of skilled workers ranging from geologists to welders to nuclear engineers. We Have Met OPEC, It's the U.S. July 2007 Energy Tribune
In mid-May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that will allow the U.S. government to sue itself. Of course, that's not how the bill's backers sold the measure, known as the 'No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007,' or NOPEC for short. The political posturing over OPEC ignores the fact that if the cartel didn't exist, the U.S., or somebody else, would have to invent it. The Great Corn Con June 26, 2007 Slate
The ethanol madness continues. Last week, the Senate passed an energy bill mandating the production of 36 billion gallons of ethanol per year by 2022 -- a sevenfold increased over current levels. But it's almost certainly a fantasy, since no one in Washington seems to have thought for five minutes about where or how that much ethanol could be produced. Press 0 For Arabic July 2, 2007
The American Conservative
In 2005, Karen Hughes, America's representative to the Arab world, told me she is "too old" to learn Arabic. At no time in recent history has America's relationship with the Arab and Islamic worlds been at a lower ebb than it is today. And yet neither Hughes, nor the U.S. military, nor the State Department, nor the FBI, appears interested in learning how to speak a language that's spoken by nearly 300 million people. An Interview With Paolo Sotero June 2007 Energy Tribune
Paulo Sotero Marques is the director of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center. Prior to that, he spent 17 years as the Washington correspondent for Estado de S.Paulo, a leading Brazilian newspaper. He discusses energy in Brazil as well as the country's economy, Hugo Ch'vez, and Latin American politics. Hot Air June 2007 Energy Tribune
Wind power is the electricity sector's eqivalent of ethanol -- the hype has lost all connection with reality. Petrobras's Keys to Success June 2007 Energy Tribune
Brazil's national oil company has been among the most successful energy companies of this decade. Combine huge reserves with savvy management and deep understanding of what it takes to drill in ultradeep water, and you have a recipe for success.

The Language Barrier May 31, 2007Counterpunch
Most of the time, I believe that the U.S. and other Western countries, can, if they really work at it, bridge the cultural gap and reach some kind of understanding with the Arab and Islamic worlds. At other times, I think that the cultural differences are just too great. Lately, I have been leaning toward the latter view.

FOIA Documents Regarding The Death of Col. Ted Westhusing
Amid the myriad tragedies and heartache caused by the Second Iraq War, the death of Col. Westhusing is among the saddest and most senseless. I have been asked by a number of people who knew Col. Westhusing for some of the documents that I obtained from the Defense Department via the Freedom of Information Act over the course of my year-long inquiry into his suicide. Rather than distribute paper copies, it makes sense to make them available in electronic form. Herewith, a batch of the key documents, in PDF:
1. Anonymous letter sent to Col. Westhusing in May 2005 regarding alleged misconduct by contractors working for the U.S. military in Iraq.
2. June 17, 2005 interview of Westhusing's widow, Michelle, by Army investigators.
3. Sworn statements from people who knew Col. Westhusing.
4. Bulk of the report done by the Army's Inspector General.
5. Bulk of the report done Army Criminal Investigation Command.
The Sands of Saudi Arabia May 2007 Energy Tribune
The ethanol boosters and neoconservatives just can't help themselves. Whenever challenged on the facts, they reflexively respond "Saudi Arabia." Merely invoking the name of the world's biggest oil producer allows them to conflate the issues of oil and terrorism, and in the process, provide justification for the billions of subsidy dollars required to keep the ethanol scam alive and well.

An Interview With Roger Pielke, Sr. May 2007 Energy Tribune
Roger Pielke is one of America's foremost climate scientists. His blog, Climate Science, discusses key issues on global warming and climate change. Pielke studies how land use affects climate. As for carbon dioxide, he he says "I don't mean that carbon dioxide isn't a problem. What I mean is that, unfortunately, it may not be our worst problem.'

Ethanol Madness With a Brazilian Beat April 2007 Energy Tribune
Ethanol gets the hype, but Brazil's oil is far more important. An Interview with Jennifer L. Turner April 2007 Energy Tribune
Jennifer Turner is the director of the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center. In this interview she talks about China's many environmental problems and its plans to build 250 new coal-fired power plants. An Interview with Mark Mills March 2007 Energy Tribune
Mark Mills is the co-author (along with Peter Huber) of The Bottomless Well, one of the most provocative and informative books ever written about energy and the energy business. Bryce talks to him about energy, ethanol, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The Legacy of George the Second March 13, 2007 Counterpunch This month, Texas Monthly magazine is running a cover story on George W. Bush and his legacy. The magazine asked various people, including Robert Caro and historian H.W. Brands, for their assessments of Bush. Here's mine: he will go down as the worst president in U.S. history. I Am Sullied No More
March 9, 2007 Texas Observer
Ted Westhusing was a true believer. And that was his fatal flaw. He didn't have to go to Iraq. But Westhusing was such a believer that he volunteered for what he thought was a noble cause. At West Point, Westhusing sought out people who opposed the war in an effort to change their minds. 'He absolutely believed that this was a just war,' said one officer who was close to him. 'He was wholly enthusiastic about this mission.' His tour of duty in Iraq was to last six months. And yet on June 5, 2005, Westhusing was found dead in his trailer at Camp Dublin in Baghdad. Note: This story was also published in Fort Worth Weekly, Urban Tulsa Weekly, and the Austin Chronicle. Food or Fuel?
March 2, 2007 Counterpunch The ethanol scam just keeps getting more and more absurd. In January, three U.S. senators two Democrats, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barack Obama of Illinois, along with Indiana Republican Richard Lugar introduced a bill that would promote the use of ethanol. It also mandates the use of more biodiesel and creates tax credits for the production of cellulosic ethanol. They called their bill the "American Fuels Act of 2007." The most amazing part of the press release trumpeting the legislation is its fourth paragraph, in which Lugar declares that "U.S. policies should be targeted to replace hydrocarbons with carbohydrates." And I Approved This Instant Message March 2, 2007
Austin Chronicle
The proliferation of blogs and social networking sites, along with the avalanche of video clips now available via YouTube and Google, have made the 2008 presidential race the most Web-focused in history. Molly February 6, 2007 Robertbryce.com
Molly Ivins was a uniter, not a divider. She spoke truth to power but she did it with joy and humor. And that's what set her apart from all the other pundits, politicos and various hangers-on who have waded into the political/publishing game. The Bush Disaster
February 2007
Energy Tribune
Whether or not you agree with the stated reasons for launching the Second Iraq War, how the war has been managed, or George W. Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 U.S. soldiers to Iraq, one thing is abundantly clear: the conflict has done tremendous damage to the United States. It's also clear that that damage has occurred on multiple levels, and there's only one person to blame for this mess: George W. Bush. The three most obvious examples of Bush's bungling involve America's moral, financial, and military standing. The Politics of Cheap Oil
January 23, 2007
Counterpunch
Oil prices may be falling, but hold off the cheering. Yes, cheaper oil leads to cheaper gasoline, and that's good for America. At least, that's the common wisdom, particularly among the neoconservatives. But there is plenty of downside to cheaper oil and those deleterious effects rarely get discussed. Surge of Danger for U.S. Troops
January 22, 2007
Salon.com
As 21,500 more young Americans begin deploying to Iraq on President Bush's orders, U.S. troops there are facing an escalating threat from improvised explosive devices. The devices, commonly called IEDs or roadside bombs, continue to plague U.S. military operations in Iraq, despite an ongoing multibillion-dollar effort by the Pentagon to counter the threat. And there is growing pessimism among U.S. soldiers and military analysts that the scourge of IEDs can actually be overcome.

Selective Memory January 12, 2007
Texas Observer
The ultimate crony is back on center stage. James A. Baker III, the single most powerful and most recognized non-elected politico in the U.S. has emerged again to play power politics And once again, Baker is using his influence to hoodwink the American people.

Our Man in Caracas
January 2007
Energy Tribune
Hugo Chavez hasn't always hated the U.S. And here's photographic proof, in the form of a snapshot that's readily available on the U.S. Department of Defense's media web site. This photo, taken on March 2, 2002, shows Chavez listening to U.S. Navy Commander Robert S. Kerno while aboard the cruiser USS Yorktown at Willemstad, Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles. Dear Nancy: Here's Your Energy To-Do List
December 2006
Energy Tribune Now that the Democrats have won both the House and the Senate, you have a mandate to change direction on Iraq and a number of other fronts. If you are serious about dealing with energy, here's your to-do list. Quit talking about energy independence, enforce federal rights to offshore minerals, and impose a fuel tax. Omitting the Obvious with James Baker
December 6, 2006
Counterpunch
After months of hype and speculation, James A. Baker III and the Iraq Study Group are on the verge of releasing their recommendations. And yet after all of that hype, the group won't provide a single deadline for getting American troops out of Iraq nor will the group address the seminal question when it comes to America's future in Iraq, which, obviously is: should we stay, or leave? But then that's not surprising, Baker omits any discussion of the savings and loan disaster in his latest book. The Ongoing Myth of Energy Independence
November 21, 2006
Counterpunch
Now that the Democrats have swept aside the Republicans in both the House and the Senate, they are clamoring for major changes in policy. The first item on their list, rightly, is a change in America's military occupation in Iraq. They also want to raise the minimum wage and make prescription drugs more affordable. Bully for them. But the other item on their to-do list--energy independence--shows the profound, willful, ignorance of American voters and their politicians. The Terawatt Challenge
November 2006
Energy Tribune
Richard Smalley called it the 'terawatt challenge.' In the months before his too-early death from cancer last year at age 62, the 1996 Nobel Prize winner was the world's foremost energy evangelist. Smalley was constantly lecturing, working to convince his listeners that the greatest challenge facing the world today is the need for new sources of abundant, clean, cheap energy. Qatar's Gas Riches
October 2006
Energy Tribune
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Venezuela, and Iran are key members of OPEC. But over the next few years, they are going to have to make way for Qatar, the smallest member of the cartel. By 2011, if all of the currently planned gas-to-liquids and LNG projects are completed, the tiny country ' with just 885,000 citizens ' will be the richest country on earth in terms of per capita GDP. It will also be among the most important for the U.S., both in terms of energy supply and military presence in the Persian Gulf. The Energy Weapon in Action
September 2006 Energy Tribune
Since 1973 and the first Arab oil embargo, the U.S. has been in fear of another embargo. And that fear has been fed a steady diet of hyperbole by American neoconservatives like James Woolsey and others who frequently talk about the need for the U.S. to develop alternative fuels, like ethanol, to decrease its foreign oil dependence. While the pro-war faction in the U.S. continues to demonize the Arab oil producers, few people dare mention that America's chief military ally in the Middle East, Israel, is now using the energy weapon more brazenly than any country in recent memory. Proof of that can be found by looking at the aftermath in Gaza and Lebanon. How to Lose an Oil War
August 2006
Energy Tribune In 1991,
America won its first oil war in the Persian Gulf. It kicked the Iraqi military out of Kuwait and reinstalled the emir of Kuwait as the ruler of the New Jersey-sized emirate. But on my visit to Kuwait in late June, during which I interviewed numerous people in the U.S. military, the U.S. State Department, and the private sector, it became obvious that a key reason why America has lost the Second Iraq War is this: it never got control of the oil. Dubai and the Shift in Gravity
August 2006
Energy Tribune
Even in its boom days, Houston couldn't compare with Sheikh Zayed Road, the highway that connects downtown Dubai with the massive port and free-trade zone at Jebel Ali. On both sides of the road, a forest of construction cranes are at work on high-rise offices and condominiums. One Dubai-based magazine claims that one-quarter of the world's construction cranes are now in Dubai.

Israel and the Irony of UN Resolutions
July 25, 2005
Counterpunch
Quick. Someone call the irony police. Benjamin Netanyahu wants the world to comply with UN Resolution 1559. So what about UN 242 and 338?

Gaza in the Dark: Poor Frustrated and Powerless July 3
, 2006 Counterpunch
Israel is not content with its occupation and total military domination of Palestine. No, Israel has proven that it wants to assure the Palestinians continue to live in the most dire poverty, a poverty created by a near-total lack of affordable energy. That truth was made clear by the Israeli military's recent bombing of the Gaza City power plant, the only electric power station inside Palestinian territory. The Real Cost of Gasoline: Get Over It!
July 2006
Energy Tribune
Time out for a reality check. Amidst the blizzard of stories about how high motor fuel prices are hurting America and big oil companies are raping consumers, we decided to do some calculations. The graphic below tells the story: current gasoline prices are a bargain. Yes, they are high when compared to prices over the past twenty years or so. But when compared to the entire post-World War II period, gasoline today is cheap, cheap, cheap. Kenny Boy Goes to Jail
June 16, 2006
Texas Observer
If there's one word that explains why Enron Corp. failed and why former executives Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling, convicted in Houston last month, are facing long stints in prison jumpsuits, it's this: hubris. The Hubris At Enron
June 2, 2006
Austin Chronicle Seldom have criminal convictions been more richly deserved. Last week, a Houston jury found both Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay guilty of various crimes they committed while the duo were heading Houston-based Enron Corp. If there's one word that can explain why Enron failed and why Lay and Skilling are facing long stints in prison jumpsuits, it's this one: hubris. 350,000 Barrels a Day, And What Do We Get?
June 2006
Energy Tribune
As an energy outfit, it's bigger than Unocal, Murphy Oil, or Anadarko Petroleum. Over the past six years or so, its budget has nearly quadrupled. Thanks to the current demand for its services, its business is expanding rapidly, particularly in the energy-rich provinces of the Persian Gulf, the Caspian, and Africa. And federal legislators, eager to curry favor with various lobbying groups, are trying to funnel more money to this entity so that it can stimulate the market for ethanol and bio fuels. But the Defense Energy Support Center is the red-headed stepchild of the energy media. Iraq's Ongoing Fuel Crisis
May 25, 2006
Counterpunch/Energy Tribune
The ongoing war in Iraq will likely be won or lost based on the availability of one commodity: motor fuel. For the moment, the U.S. military has all the fuel it needs -- about three million gallons per day -- to prosecute the war in Iraq. The same cannot be said for Iraqi civilians. Indeed, the supply of motor fuel in Iraq remains highly precarious. Read more here or here. The Self-Locking F-22 May 2, 2006 Counterpunch Last week, Lockheed Martin announced that its profits were up a hefty 60 percent in the first quarter. The company earned $591 million in profit on revenues of $9.2 billion. Now, if the company could just figure out how to put a door handle on its new $361 million F-22 fighter, its prospects would really soar. The Scandal of the V-22: It Kills, It Crashes, But It Won't Die... April29/30 Counterpunch
It's the Franken plane. No matter how many times the V-22 crashes, no matter how many people it kills, no matter how much it costs, the tiltrotor aircraft known as the Osprey just keeps on sucking down taxpayer dollars. The tab thus far: a staggering $18 billion. The Dubai Ports Deal: Trade or Militarism? May 2006 Energy Tribune
In mid-March, while the brouhaha over the Dubai Ports World deal was still raging, America's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, stopped in a friendly port to take on fuel and provisions. The port: Jebel Ali in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A Thousand Pages of Rage April 18, 2006 Al Eqtisadiah
Click here for Arabic version of first section of Bryce's review of Robert Fisk's book. Further Reflections on Unrestricted Warfare April 7, 2006 Defense and the National Interest It's been seven years since two Chinese soldiers, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, released their treatise, Unrestricted Warfare. But their 228-page book should be read again by policymakers and warfighters because their points are directly relevant to the dangers facing the U.S. and its gargantuan military-industrial-Congressional complex. The Idiocy of the Energy Isolationists April 2006 Energy Tribune
During my recent week-long trip to Saudi Arabia, I talked with dozens of Saudi businessmen and politicos. Of all those conversations, one quote sticks out: 'When we meet with the Chinese, they never ask us about price. They only want to know about supply.' A Thousand Pages of Rage March 11, 2006 Counterpunch
It's 1,000 pages of rage. One thousand and thirty eight pages, to be exact. And Robert Fisk, one of the best, most courageous Westerners who writes about the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East, justifies that rage on every page of his magnum opus, The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East. The United States of Enron February 15, 2006 Counterpunch
The Bush Administration has become Enron. World dominance. The old rules don't apply. Machievellian vengeance toward naysayers. Corrupt accounting. And holding all those ingredients together: a heaping helping of hubris, a hubris that leaves no room for doubt or uncertainty. Is Bush Serious? February 3, 2006 Counterpunch
During his State of the Union address, George W. Bush assured us that, with his leadership, we are going to "make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past." But it's not clear which countries he's talking about and more importantly, if he really wants to quit buying their oil. Iraq's Oil Shock January 18, 2006 Salon
We know that the Bush administration was flat wrong about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. And now, nearly three years after the beginning of the war, it's also clear that top Bush officials were just as delusional about Iraq's energy business and how critical the energy sector would be to achieving security and stability in Iraq. Continuing failure with this vital part of the reconstruction is costing the United States -- and the Iraqi people -- very dearly. Man Versus Mine Jan-Feb 2006 Atlantic Monthly
Nearly a century ago, while serving as a British liaison officer to the Arab tribes during World War I, T. E. Lawrence developed many of the techniques of modern insurgent warfare. Lawrence's fluency in Arabic and profound understanding of Arab culture helped him invigorate the Arab Revolt of 1916'1918. His savvy military tactics helped ensure its success against the Turks. In his memoir, Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922), Lawrence revealed his most effective tactic: "Mines were the best weapon yet discovered to make the regular working of their trains costly and uncertain for our Turkish enemy." The Fatal Flaw November 18, 2005 Texas Observer
Hubris put George W. Bush in the White House. That same hubris is bringing him down. And while seeing Bush get his comeuppance may bring some glee to his foes, that hubris is leaving America leaderless, rudderless, politically isolated, economically paralyzed, and militarily decimated. Top-Secret Cronies November 17, 2005 Salon
No discussion of cronyism in the Bush administration would be complete without talking about PFIAB, short for the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. George W. Bush's latest appointments to the PFIAB, which advises the president on how various intelligence agencies are performing, represent a who's who of the Halliburton-Texas Rangers-oil business crony club that made Bush into a millionaire and helped propel him into the White House. Fueling Our Pain October 11, 2005 Salon
If Americans are hurting from $3 gasoline, wait till they feel the pain of $4 or even $5, diesel fuel. We'd better get ready, because it's probably on the way. Written in Stone September 23, 2005 Austin Chronicle
On the Forty Acres at UT, there's a building named after one of the worst environmental desperadoes of the modern era. His name is James R. ("Jim Bob") Moffett and he's the chairman of New Orleans-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. , or go directly to the Chronicle's cover, complete with satellite image. The Neocons' Version of Energy Security September 9, 2005 Texas Observer The phrase "energy security" has joined the likes of apple pie, motherhood and free wifi access as near-to-the-heart things that no one dare speak against. But the neoconservatives who are now the chief cheerleaders for energy security have created a climate of energy insecurity for the U.S. and for millions of other citizens around the world. BP's Green Hypocrisy September 2005 World Energy Monthly Review
Accidents happen. And in the case of BP, or any other refiner, an accident every few years is perfectly understandable. Even two accidents in the span of a couple of months, well, that would be understandable, too. But BP hasn't just had two accidents or, three. No, BP has had five significant accidents at its Houston-area refineries in a span of 11 months ' from September 2004 to August of this year. The Hollow Man August 15, 2005
Salon
As the Iraq war becomes ever more futile, the similarities -- and more important, the differences -- between George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson become more pronounced. Twilight for the Saudis? August 2005 World Energy Monthly Review
It doesn't matter if Matthew Simmons is right or wrong about Saudi Arabia's future oil production capability. Even if he's wrong, he's right. Here's what I mean: Simmons has used his ample fortune and his stature in the industry to single-handedly force the House of Saud to open its dishdash. A letter from Jerusalem
July 26, 2005 Arab News
I wrote this piece on May 6, while on a 12-day visit to Israel and Palestine where I was doing some reporting on energy issues in the region. I intended this letter to only be read by my family and friends. But the editor of Arab News, Khaled Al Maeena, asked to reprint it. Here 'tis. Corn Dog July 19, 2005 Slate
For the last generation, ethanol has been America's fuel of the future. But there has never been more hype about it than there is today. Green energy analysts like Amory Lovins, environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, neoconservatives like James Woolsey, and farm groups like the American Coalition for Ethanol are all touting the biofuel. But ethanol is a loser. It won't reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It takes more energy to make ethanol than it contains. And it will add complexity to our motor fuel supply chain. ExxonMobil Sees the Peak -- Why Doesn't W? July 2005 World Energy Monthly Review
Lee Raymond has repeatedly dismissed the notion of peak oil. Whenever the laconic CEO and chairman of ExxonMobil gets question about future oil production, he's invariably bullish. Just last month, during an interview with Petroleum Intelligence Weekly, he said flatly, "the world is not running out of oil." That's true. The world will always have oil -- at a price. But while Raymond contends there are no problems ahead, ExxonMobil's own analysts are predicting that non-OPEC producers will hit their peak production in less than five years.

Bush Fire Rove? Fat Chance July 14, 2005 Salon
For all of you out there waiting for George W. Bush to fire Karl Rove: Don't hold your breath. Here are six reasons why it will take an indictment to depose Bush's Brain.

America's Oily Image June, 2005 World Energy Monthly Review
Forget the Arab "street." America's problem in the Arab world may lie with the taxi drivers. During an early May trip to Israel and Palestine, I asked every taxi driver I met the same question: Why did America invade Iraq? The response from all but one of those 20 drivers was the same: "To get the petrol." The Efficiency Mirage May, 2005 World Energy Monthly Review
An odd alliance has formed between environmental groups, labor groups and pro-Iraq war neo-conservatives. They are united in their belief that fuel efficiency will save America. They're wrong. Is OPEC Irrelevant? April, 2005 World Energy Monthly Review
The March 15 meeting of the OPEC ministers in Isfahan, Iran, will be remembered as a tipping point in the history of the energy business. By now, everyone knows that during that meeting OPEC agreed to hike its production by 500,000 barrels per day, bringing OPEC's stated quota to record 27.5 million barrels per day. The move was an effort to slow the recent surge in prices. The increased quota doesn't matter. The real issue is this: For the first time in more than seven decades, the world oil industry does not have a controlling cartel. OPEC ' and the pricing power that it has held for decades -- is disintegrating. The Gushing Truth May 4, 2005
Salon
America will never -- repeat, never -- be energy independent. America is such a major energy user and the energy market is so complex that we can never be independent. In short, there's no silver bullet when it comes to energy. Pretending that there is only obscures the magnitude of the problem. Running on Empty
April 2, 2005
Al Eqtisadiah (Saudi Arabia) (in Arabic)
This is a reprint of the March 15 Salon story.

Running On Empty March 15, 2005 Salon
Four years ago, the analysts at John S. Herold Inc. were the first to call bullshit on Enron. On Feb. 21, 2001, three Herold analysts issued a report that said Enron's profit margins were shriveling, the company had too few hard assets, and its stock price was way too high. Less than ten months later, Enron filed for bankruptcy. Today, the analysts at Herold -- a research-only firm that issues valuations on several hundred publicly traded energy companies -- are making predictions even bolder than their call on Enron. They have begun estimating when each of the world's biggest energy companies will peak in its ability to produce oil and gas.

Texas Takes on Big Pharma March 4, 2005 Texas Observer
When it comes to fraud, Enron, Tyco, and Big Tobacco have nothing on Big Pharma. Some of the world's biggest pharmaceutical and health care companies are paying huge fines to settle whistleblower lawsuits that allege they manipulate the prices of their drugs and services in order to defraud Medicaid and Medicare. And the state of Texas is leading the charge against the fraudsters. Support the Troops? Ground Osprey January 30, 2005 San Antonio Express News
Now that the cash-strapped Pentagon has announced plans to cancel much of the F-22 fighter program, it should take the opportunity to kill another gold-plated albatross: the V-22, the tilt-rotor aircraft built by Bell Helicopter and Boeing. As Green as a Neocon: Why Iraq hawks are driving Priuses January 25, 2005 Slate
A curious transformation is occurring in Washington, D.C., a split of foreign policy and energy policy: Many of the leading neoconservatives who pushed hard for the Iraq war are going green. Texas' Biz is America's Biz December 3, 2004 Texas Observer
The more things change, the more they don't. The very first issue of the Texas Observer broke a story which, given the details, might have occurred just last week. Searching for a Cure December 2003 American Legion
From behind a desk in a small windowless office, smack in the middle of the third floor of Chirlden's Hospital of Los Angeles, Dr. Francine Kaufman devotes her life to fighting a killer of kids. She bobs a tea bag in a tall foam cup of hot water and takes notice of the tower of paper on her desk. With a slightly apologetic laugh, she says, "I'm a doctor, deep down inside, and I have a bunch of patients I need to take care of." The Texas Chainsaw Massacre November 10, 2004 Salon
With the reelection of George W. Bush, the Texanization of American politics is virtually complete. Ever since 1845, when the state was annexed by the United States, the Lone Star State and what it represents have been controversial. At that time, Ralph Waldo Emerson said the push to add Texas to the Union was an event that would "retard or retrograde the civilization." Retrograde or not, Bush's convincing win over John Kerry means that America's identity has now been subsumed by the Texas worldview. Circling the Hearses: State funeral regulators are dancing to the undertakers' tune and that's bad news for consumers November 5, 2004
Austin Chronicle
A $1,000 expenditure by a state agency might not sound like much ' particularly when you consider that the state of Texas will spend about $58 billion this year. But in the case of the Texas Funeral Service Commission, and their decision to spend $1,000 in an effort to join the wrong side of a proconsumer lawsuit, well, then $1,000 begins to look like a whole lot of money.

Vote! The Precinct and the Parish Commentary for KUT Radio, aired mid-September, 2004 KUT-FM
For me, Election Day is like a church gathering for the neighborhood. Like a Sunday visit to church, the journey to the poll at the school near my house gives me a physical connection to a very specific group of people ' many of whom share my beliefs and concerns.

Funeral Giant and Texas Funeral Service Commission Make Friends -- October 15, 2004 Austin Chronicle
For most of the last five years, the Texas Funeral Service Commission has been battling with the world's largest funeral services company, Houston-based Service Corporation International, over allegations that the company violated numerous state regulations in the late 1990s. But the commission and SCI are now working on the same side ' and their position is not pro-consumer. The TFSC recently filed an amicus curiae brief that could help SCI escape from what could be an enormously expensive class-action lawsuit. Enron Author Cites Lack of Morality in Enron Collapse September 2004 Pipeline & Gas Journal
Interview with Robert Bryce by Jeff Share, editor of Pipeline & Gas Journal, regarding the collapse of Enron. More Voodoo is Doodoo October 8, 2004 Texas Observer
Perhaps the most interesting -- and most underreported -- element of the current presidential campaign is the growing schism between the Bush Administration and the fiscal conservatives in the GOP.

It's a Baker Botts World October 11, 2004 The Nation
The induction of George W. Bush into the Texas crony network can be traced to a precise date: June 6, 1962. On that date, the gregarious 15-year-old went to work in the mailroom of Houston's oldest and most prestigious law firm, Baker Botts.

Kerry's Low-Watt Energy Policy September 24, 2004 Texas Observer
Political speeches are always light on specifics and heavy on catch phrases. But John Kerry's speech at the Democratic National Convention was remarkable for its near-total disregard for the harsh realities of America's current energy predicament. If Kerry Is Soft On Defense, Then So Is Cheney September 21, 2004 Austin American-Statesman
If -- as the Republicans claim -- John Kerry is too dovish to be president because he voted to cut funding for several weapons programs, what can be said of Dick Cheney's record when he was secretary of defense, and in particular, his four year-long effort to kill the V-22? Politics: The Bush Legacy September 10, 2004 Washingtonpost.com
An online chat/debate with Rod D. Martin, editor for Thank You, President Bush. Martin argues that G.W. Bush will go down in history as one of America's greatest presidents. Robert Bryce argues otherwise. America's Achilles' heel August 16, 2004 Salon
The insurgents in Iraq know that keeping its oil flowing is crucial to U.S. success in the war -- and they're doing all they can to muck things up.

For Insurgents, It's All About Oil
August 1, 2004
San Antonio Express-News
In November 2002, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld assured us that the then-looming second Iraq war had "nothing to do with oil, literally nothing to do with oil." Unfortunately, Rumsfeld still hasn't convinced Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or the insurgents in Iraq of that fact.

Halliburton's Boss From Hell July 21, 2004 Salon
In early September, during the Republican National Convention, the GOP is almost certain to name Dick Cheney as its nominee for vice president of the United States. In the meantime, it's clear that Cheney deserves another nomination: as one of the worst CEOs in recent American history. Interview with MotherJones.com About The Texas Crony Network July 21, 2004 Motherjones.com
"The author describes how the Lone Star State's powerful crony network, centered around the energy industry, has come dominate national politics, making Texas 'America's superstate.'" CIA Must Come Clean On How Much It Spends July 19, 2004 Austin American-Statesman
Despite the murderous mistakes by the CIA and its sister agencies, American taxpayers are not allowed to know how much of their money the agencies are spending. And the spooks at the CIA want to keep it that way. Oh, the stories he could tell! July 8, 2004 Salon.com
Now that former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay has been indicted for his role in the company's downfall (the specific charges are to be unsealed Thursday), the question that needs to be asked is: Will he turn against the Bushes? The Enron Case July 8, 2004
Washingtonpost.com
Robert Bryce answers questions online regarding the Ken Lay indictment and the Enron scandal.

The V-22: Texas' Deadly $16 billion Boondoggle June 18, 2004 Texas Observer
Compared to the V-22, Lazarus was a piker. Lazarus only rose from the dead once. And it took a special visit by Jesus Christ to make that happen. The V-22 should have been killed, dead, and buried half a dozen times by cost- and safety-conscious bureaucrats. And yet, thanks largely to the Texas Congressional delegation (a group seldom confused with the Christ) the V-22 continues to stay aloft, gnawing big chunks out of the Pentagon budget. Not even Dick Cheney, a man who has never been considered anything but a devout hawk, could drive a stake through the heart of the V-22, even though he spent his entire tenure as George H.W. Bush's defense secretary trying to do just that.

An Enron-like reaction to Abu Ghraib scandal May 18, 2004 Austin American-Statesman The Bush administration's response to the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal has brought on a case of Enronesque d'ja vu. In 2001, Ken Lay didn't fire Andy Fastow. Instead, he called him an "outstanding" CFO. Today, George W. Bush is calling Donald Rumsfeld a "superb" defense secretary. America's Culture of Death May 5, 2004 Dallas Morning News
It wasn't just another corpse. Like other TV viewers, I see plenty of dead bodies. But this one was particularly gruesome. The pallid, naked male body was undergoing an autopsy. Its chest cavity was completely open; a giant X-shaped incision exposed the entrails and internal organs. Today's TV shows are indicative of a disturbing truth: America has become a culture of death, not a culture of life. George W. and the Texas Press: Is the Honeymoon Over? May/June Columbia Journalism Review
George W. Bush says he doesn't read newspapers. He does, however, apparently read Texas Monthly magazine. In fact, the president of the United States drinks his coffee from a Texas Monthly mug. And with good reason. Perhaps no other Texas media outlet has been more supportive of George W. Bush during his career than Texas Monthly. Ever since he announced that he was running against the incumbent governor, Ann Richards, a decade ago, the magazine has, with a few exceptions, been a reliable cheerleader. But in its February issue the magazine dropped one of its pompoms.

It's time for America to grow up when it comes to energy April 6, 2004 Dallas Morning News
What's old is new again. In March 1973, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries began discussing the need to increase oil prices because of the falling value of the dollar. And on April 1 of that year, OPEC ' which was emerging as a force to be reckoned with ' raised prices for its crude by 5.7 percent. A few weeks later, eight OPEC members raised their prices by another 12 percent. In October 1973, OPEC members, angry over America's support of Israel during the Arab-Israeli war, cut off exports to the United States.

Bush's Greatest Failure March 26, 2004 Texas Observer
George W. Bush is missing his 'Nixon Goes to China' moment. In 1972, President Nixon was able to go to Beijing and negotiate with the Communists because he was an ardent anti-Communist. Bush, the Texas oil man, has a golden opportunity to ignite fundamental change in America's ruinous energy policies, but he hasn't done it. And that is the single greatest failing of Bush's presidency. Always Coca-Cola March 7, 2004 Washington Post
Coca-Cola may be the perfect consumer product. Ultra-cheap to make, the stuff is transformed -- with the help of savvy marketing and zillions of advertising dollars -- from mere carbonated sugar water into an object of desire. The company offers what former Coke CEO Don Keough called "a small moment of pleasure." Bush's dual policy of seeking truth, closing off government
Feb. 7, 2004 Austin American-Statesman
President Bush is promising an investigation into America's intelligence business. An independent commission, we're told, will help us understand why the CIA and the White House were so wrong about Saddam Hussein's still-missing arsenal of nasty weapons. Crime Does Pay: Fastows' plea bargain is bad deal for public
Jan. 27, 2004
Dallas Morning News
Two more Enron executives are going to jail. That's good. But the sorry truth emerging from the prosecution of the Enron pirates is that crime pays. In fact, it pays real darn well. Cheney is Still Paid by Pentagon Contractor
March 12, 2003
The Guardian
Halliburton, the Texas company which has been awarded the Pentagon's contract to put out potential oil-field fires in Iraq and which is bidding for postwar construction contracts, is still making annual payments to its former chief executive, the vice-president Dick Cheney. The payments, which appear on Mr Cheney's 2001 financial disclosure statement, are in the form of "deferred compensation" of up to $1m ('600,000) a year.