I don't know. I can't help but feel like some or overly minimizing the important of the oil in the region. Obviously it goes much more deeper than oil. But the United States, and the rest of the world and our allies, still have a lot of interest in foreign oil. Not to mention all of the business interests involved. We can drill as much oil as we want here in the US, process tar sands from Canada, frack for natural gas and blast mountains for coal in Appalachia and beyond, install millions of acres of solar and wind farms, but oil is still going to be a vital component of the energy infrastructure for the foreseeable future. If for no other reason, it's pretty expensive to produce energy here in the US for many reasons. Environmental regulations, higher labor costs, taxes, etc. I live in CA oil country, and they are working on establishing a new rail line to import oil from North Dakota to be refined in Bakersfield. Why? Mostly because it's cheaper, but also because it's of better quality.

While the US might be minimizing its dependence on foreign oil, it's long overdue and we aren't nearly were we need to be, yet. Oil companies are going to milk that cow for all it's worth, which will undoubtedly continue to be an important factor in US foreign policy. There's still a tremendous amount of money and power involved.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 

I'm with you all the way, Wade. A couple of questions, though. Would you have the commander-in-chief just basically do it? Or go to Congress for some sort of declaration or resolution? (That might work for an Obama-type, but take the next guy we hopefully will have - some decent "Neocon"-type hahaha - the leftist media will tear him a new one like they did Bush if he doesn't probably even if he does)? Or would you have him go to the damn UN hahahaha (rhetorical question to you, but to some it would be a real possibility)?

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 

I don't know. I can't help but feel like some or overly minimizing the important of the oil in the region. Obviously it goes much more deeper than oil. But the United States, and the rest of the world and our allies, still have a lot of interest in foreign oil. Not to mention all of the business interests involved. We can drill as much oil as we want here in the US, process tar sands from Canada, frack for natural gas and blast mountains for coal in Appalachia and beyond, install millions of acres of solar and wind farms, but oil is still going to be a vital component of the energy infrastructure for the foreseeable future. If for no other reason, it's pretty expensive to produce energy here in the US for many reasons. Environmental regulations, higher labor costs, taxes, etc. I live in CA oil country, and they are working on establishing a new rail line to import oil from North Dakota to be refined in Bakersfield. Why? Mostly because it's cheaper, but also because it's of better quality.

While the US might be minimizing its dependence on foreign oil, it's long overdue and we aren't nearly were we need to be, yet. Oil companies are going to milk that cow for all it's worth, which will undoubtedly continue to be an important factor in US foreign policy. There's still a tremendous amount of money and power involved.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 

Our system requires oil. No question about that. But we don't need Middle-East oil.

Originally Posted by: Wade 

Finally, if "regulations" and "taxes" are what make oil "expensive," maybe it isn't increasing our dependence on "cheaper" foreign oil. Maybe it is getting rid of some of the damn regulations and taxes?

Originally Posted by: Wade 

I wonder if the world would be jumping at our throats if we just minded our own business, took care of our own citizens and kept our nose out of others agendas.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool