Well at least then the mask would come off, and Americans would wake up to what we should have done back in 1973, and realize that energy policy is our number one National Security concern, and Energy Independence should be our Number One goal.
I have agreed that we needed energy independence since the early 70s. We were effectively over a barrel, and yes the pun is intended.
Some OPEC nations wanted to reduce oil production to spike oil prices in the West. Some just wanted to arbitrarily raise prices drastically.
Either of those and the impact on the U. S. in those days would have been devastating. Saudi Arabia always shot those down. IMO we were exposed to a 2008 type situation back then, and by Saudi Arabia acting on our behalf, that was avoided.
All you have to do is remember the long gas lines in a day when there were probably twice as many gas stations as we have now. Imagine what it would have been like, if on top of that OPEC had cut production or raised gas prices by half again or double.