Undermining Power

America has stumbled in maintaining its global leadership position.

This book exposes the core reason: staggering over-reliance on other countries to provide the foundational mineral resources which underpin modern energy, economic, and national security. Decades-old policies need a re-boot to switch from undermining America's lands and power to incentivizing self-reliance again.

With an intense focus on solutions, Undermining Power challenges the status quo on multiple levels, and asks the tough questions that policymakers, regulators, and citizens alike need to ponder as we are well into the 21st century.

• Do you have the facts about the vulnerabilities of supply chains to support any of our modern lifestyle?
• Does clean energy have a reliable, maintained, 21st century infrastructure ready to handle an entirely new process to deliver power to our homes, businesses, and industries?
• What happens to any economy when it cannot deliver not only energy, but the technology and mobile communications infrastructure that we rely on every minute for emergencies, health, and defense?
• Lastly, if our national security systems rely on imports from adversarial countries, or across great distances, how can our military declare a state of readiness when we do not have within our own power the means to manufacture modern-day equipment needed for our defense?

Dr. Ned Mamula and Ann Bridges continue where they left off in Groundbreaking! America's New Quest for Mineral Independence. This inside look into America's mineral supply chain weaknesses in Undermining Power broadens on those themes and exposes the obstacles standing in the way of shoring up our vulnerabilities with pragmatic, actionable policy solutions. Using case studies and role models of modern-day mining rather than last century's scare tactics, they collaborate again to blow away disinformation with an easy-to-understand narrative.

The book's theme introduces the concept that mineral security is the foundation for energy reliability, economic wealth, and national security, and therefore tapping domestic mineral resources must be understood within that framework. As clean technology has boosted the efficiencies and potential profit of other industries, modern mineral exploration and discovery is now using tools to develop resources to support and contribute to an allied-based supply chain.

What's getting in the way are old perceptions perpetuated and encouraged by those who benefit most by leaving America floundering in a state of perpetual status quo, while the new players of this century-geopolitical, financial, environmental-exploit this complacence to our detriment. Acknowledgment that our existing policies are failing must be coupled with bold leadership and creative problem-solving.

Rather than waiting for the next unexpected shock to a stretched-out and unreliable supply chain, they suggest that mostly what is required is political will to welcome this foundational industry back into the fold of innovative, successful endeavors which have and will contribute greatly to raising America's leadership standing in the world.

Geologist Ned Mamula is a senior geoscientist with over 30-years' experience in research and policy development of oil and gas, critical minerals, international supply chain vulnerabilities, and the geopolitics of energy and minerals.

A native of Pittsburgh, he has spearheaded resource development investigations with leading scientific and intelligence agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey, and several Washington think tanks, such as the American Resources Policy Network. His writings have appeared in top scientific journals and media including National Review, Forbes, U.S. News, American Spectator, Washington Times, The Hill Newspaper, C-SPAN, and have been incorporated into the Congressional Record. Dr. Mamula served on the Trump Transition Team as an advisor and subject matter expert for the Department of the Interior on geoscience issues including energy, minerals, and federal lands.

Dr. Mamula received his Bachelor's Degree in Geology from Slippery Rock University, Master's Degree in Geoscience from Penn State University, his Ph.D. in Geology and Geophysics from Texas A&M University, and a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies.