During "Fleet Week" NYC Suddenly Less Energy Efficient

The sound stirs the loins. Hearts racing, heads turn to the skies...

And four fighters jets zoom above, sonics shaking windows, hands involuntarily raising to chests.

"Fleet Week" is upon New York City, with thousands of sailors wandering about, enjoying a brief reprieve from duty. We thank them, appreciate their tourist dollars, but not the waste they symbolize.

The Air Force uses one-half of all gasoline used by the U.S. Government. Classified, of course, but recent GAO and Pentagon reports show that the Air Force and Navy jets are only adding the energy inefficiency of America. As reported by the Dayton Daily News: "The Air Force's annual fuel consumption bill has gone from $2.8 billion in 2004 to $6.2 billion now, Maj. Gen. John Folkerts said. Over three years, the Department of Defense's standard price for a gallon of JP-8 jet fuel went from $1.10 to $2.87, before the recent run-up in fuel prices, he said."

So, as Americans are balking at pump prices, so too is the Air Force. And New York? Well, most of us don't drive, which makes such usage rather ugly - especially when booming overhead. With our mayor releasing the most bold energy efficiency plans in the nation (planning for 2030 instead of 2050 like other leaders - even environmentalists) our city is beset with the military - an unquenchable gas hog.

Herein lies the irony of America's energy policy: As reported today in the New York Times, coal lobbyists are vying for their own, personal trough: Among other bills being manuevered and manipulated in the House and Senate committees, one part is "permission for the Air Force to sign 25-year contracts for almost a billion gallons a year of coal-based jet fuel."

Permission? Coal-based jet fuel?

How about cutting a billion gallons of fuel?

Never mind, we're at war. We can't question the Pentagon or its lobbyists, uh, I mean, Generals and advisors. Instead of flying missions over a city that has been on the highest threat level since nine-one-one, please tell us where billions of Iraqi oil have disappeared to? (search last month's reports on your own, the excuses are too absurb to print here) The Pentagon says total reserves may have been over-estimated, but it is a wonder that we invaded such an oil-rich country only to undermine its production and, believe it or not, use that oil to for our own means. Oil companies are blaming refinery shortages for high prices - but didn't we hear that excuse last year; Katrina can't be blamed any longer - Just tell us the truth or bring full accountability to the fourth branch of government: The Pentagon.

Most "predator" drones now running on solar, yet we're still advancing military policies which will have lifespans of decades and are purposely intended to NOT curb fossil fuel usage and waste.

It's sad that New York City must be Ground Zero for such displays of irony. We're the most energy efficient city in America (albeit mostly by default, because we're stacked on top of one another) and welcoming and entertaining our soldiers is part of our tradition. We support our troops.

But it's getting harder and harder to support their leaders and the machine behind them. Bush/Cheney don't dare use Ground Zero for photo-ops anymore, because they already know the welcome they'll get, and New Jersey is fighting to close the bombing range that - OOPS - set a massive forest fire when a fighter jet dropped a flare on dry ground. We've had enough, and we're now taking the lead.

One can only wish that some of those soldiers, young faces filled with pride, will do the same some day. Instead of flying jets over a city already beseiged, please honor us all by staying grounded and saving what little gas remains.