It has been a classic Cheney operation. An oil man in a government of oil men, Cheney has conducted the review almost wholly in the interests of the energy industries. At his side throughout has been Andrew Lundquist, recruited from the offices of Alaska senator Ted Stevens. In his previous job Lundquist drafted legislation to allow oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a project of which Cheney was already a supporter 20 years ago. Drilling in Alaska is deeply unpopu lar with Americans and the majority in today's Congress but, nevertheless, it is likely to be endorsed.
Environmental groups claim that they have been shut out of the energy review.
Cheney quite simply refuses to discuss his ideas with them. By contrast, the views of industry moguls and insiders are given long and lavish attention. Among Dunham's key aims are more drilling, more construction and an end to oil sanctions against Iran, Iraq and Libya. Cheney's report will not only advocate drilling in Alaska. It is also being pressed to loosen restrictions in parts of the Montana Rockies, as well as to extend offshore drilling.