GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: Obama Weighs Tapping Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Counter Oil Price Spike

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: Fox News

07March2011 7:00amEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: The Obama administration is considering releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help Americans facing a spike in oil prices as a result of unrest in the Middle East, Obama Chief of Staff William Daley said Sunday.

The administration is considering all options when it comes to preventing the U.S. economy from backsliding as a result of recent increases in oil prices.

"The issue of the reserves is one we're considering. It is something that only is done -- and has been done in very rare occasions. There's a bunch of factors that have to be looked at. And it is just not the price," Daley said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"I think there is no one who doubts that the uncertainty in the Middle East right now has caused these tremendous increases in the last number of weeks. ... All matters have to be on the table when you ... see the difficulty coming out of this economic crisis we're in and the fragility of it," he added.

Oil prices have skyrocketed in recent weeks, climbing to nearly $105 per barrel on Friday from about $90 one month ago. That puts the price of a gallon of gas at a national average of $3.50, according to AAA. (read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.

GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: US Military Moves Forces for Possible Libya Mission

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: Global Security

01March2011 7:30amEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: The U.S. military is moving air and naval forces in the region around Libya to be ready to carry out any orders it is given related to the crisis there. But officials say no decision has been made on whether or how to use U.S. military power.

The U.S. military normally maintains a strong presence in the Mediterranean, and has bases in Spain, Italy and Turkey. It has more forces south of the Suez Canal, mainly focused on East African piracy and support for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

But naval and air forces in particular are flexible, and can be in one place one day, and another place fairly far away the next day.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan says although the U.S. military has not been ordered to do anything regarding Libya, it is making plans and has started to move forces, just in case it is ordered.

"We have planners working various contingency plans, and I think it's safe to say as part of this we are repositioning forces to provide for that flexibility, once decisions are made," he said.

Lapan says the military is working to ensure that when President Barack Obama says he has asked officials to prepare "a full range of options," as he did last week, that there are in fact options researched and ready to be presented to the president, and implemented if necessary.

Military officials are reluctant to say exactly what options they are preparing. But experts outside government say the possibilities include imposing a no-fly zone, delivering humanitarian supplies or weapons to revolt leaders, evacuating foreigners, and potentially sending in troops to establish or maintain order. No one is seriously talking about that at this stage. (read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.