From "Notes From a Subterranean Library in Oregon," a compilation of Ray Peat's newspaper letters and columns, compiled by T3Uncoupled (2023). Originally published 1981.

Ray Peat, "Nuclear blackmail", p. 38

The interior secretary’s vision of our natural resources being consumed by the big corporations before Armageddon, and the Pentagon’s increasing preparations for nuclear war, on the surface might suggest that this is a terminal administration, really preparing to wind things up forever. While it is true that some of our leaders lack common sense, I think their advisers and promoters have more “realistic” plans for the future. The neutron bomb is not popular in Mexico. Many people realize that it would be a handy weapon to be used by a neighbor intent on invading and occupying their oil fields. If affairs don’t go well for the U.S. in the Middle East, I think our policy makers will apply all necessary pressure to get as much oil as needed at a favorable price from Mexico. While the weapon could easily trigger nuclear war if used in Europe or Iran, I believe some policy makers would feel that it could be used in this hemisphere without threat of nuclear retaliation. For some Mexicans, deployment of that weapon in the U.S. constitutes nuclear blackmail and terrorism. It is not in our interest to allow the neutron bomb to become another tool of the oil corporations.