As you claim, ethanol is a controversial biofuel for several reasons: it takes about as much energy to produce as it releases, it is corrosive, it pushes up food prices worldwide, and it requires huge amounts of water to produce (“Don’t Mix,” March 1, 2008). Now, the only reason why it is billed as green is that this is the simplest way to make it palatable not only to Americans, but also to Europeans. The strategic reason for ethanol production is disentanglement from all the oil-producing nations, most of which are awkward traders. The green label stuck on this biofuel is so much window-dressing for the politically naïve. It is thus a bit puzzling that your article about ethanol does not even hint at the real reason for its vigorous promotion on both sides of the Atlantic. It is even more puzzling that you seem not to have learned this much since your last article on ethanol and other biofuels (“Ethanol, Schmethanol,” September 29, 2007).