The focal point of the paper is to prepare a critic of the article “Air Force tests alternative fuels (04/24/2008): will there be a coal-burning fleet in the wild green yonder?” written by David Blake and published in the Military Periscope Special Reports on April 24, 2008. The author expresses his concern over the global price rise and politics of oil and illustrates the need for fuel and alternative fuel for the US. He indicates his article towards the use of CLT or coal as liquid fuel or synthetic fuel. He mentions that there is a negative side of the use of CLT as it emits more CO2 into the atmosphere and thus pollutes the environment. However, he insists that this use of CLT is needed in the immediate future in order to sustain the dominating power of the US. He illustrates the operations taken up by the US air force in view of CLT and thus the author is concern about the military supremacy of the US and about the global environment at the same time. However, though the article is more dominated with advocacy of the CLT, it does enumerate different alternate fuel sources and the mode of using CLT over the others. (Blake, 2008)
The main concern of the text is applying cleaner production means systematically addressing all phases of the production process and product life cycle of the CLT. Cleaner production encompasses energy and raw material conservation, reduction in the use of toxic substances and product, and process changes that reduce wastes and pollutants previously produced. All these options have the same aim, to reduce the risk of humans and the environment from industrial Activities and consumption, and to do so in the most cost-effective way possible. The fundamental issue of this production is to maintain a constant supply of fuel not only for military purposes but also for general usages. However, as the experiment is carried out by the air force, it is obvious that the focal point of the article would always look at the parameters of the authorities.
It is obvious that the manner in which the entire article was written makes it lucid and easily understandable by the non-technical and the general population. It does provide the occasional chemical details but that part is highly needed for the establishment of the argument in a persuasive manner. In this context, the author is highly successful. It should be mentioned that the article “Air Force tests alternative fuels (04/24/2008): will there be a coal-burning fleet in the wild green yonder?” written by David Blake is a very relevant text on the current need of the nation.
In conclusion, we may say that the advent of the human race has had an adverse effect on the environment. However, fact remains that there is a serious need for alternative fuel and the air force authorities are working on newer methods of creating alternative fuel so that there would not be any economic and strategic pressure on the US. Thus, I would rather agree with the point of view expressed by the author as he points more towards economic cost analysis and at the same time is sensitive towards environmental issues. This is a well-written and well-documented article and it is possible to agree with the point of view of the author as the article is mainly about the profits of the near future that the nation would benefit from.
References
Blake, David. (2008). “Air Force tests alternative fuels: will there be a coal-burning fleet in the wild green yonder?..” Military Periscope Special Reports. NA. Academic OneFile. Gale. COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIV. Web.