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At this point in time, we are simply enslaved to the flow of petroleum from the ME. Our economy depends too much on the petrol products that make things flow. This is a perfect example of how bad energy policy (not becoming self-sufficent) is coming back to bite us in the ass. The mullahs, islamonazis, mohammedans et al. know this and have used it as a very large bargaining chip. If we become cut off from our supplies of petrol from the ME then the ChiComms can really hammer us economically. They would have access to all the oil they wanted/needed and could exploit the trade deficit to do some real damage. There is now a push to bring nuke power and home drilling online but even if the support was there tomorrow it would take a minimum five years to get it on line to the point that it would make a difference. John Q. Public is too selfish to understand sacrifice like our forebears did (WWII) and screams every time the gas prices go up instead of asking really why they are going up. I will disregard the neocon-military-industrial complex tinhat statement as it doesn't bear arguing.

"At this point in time, we are simply enslaved to the flow of petroleum from the ME. Our economy depends too much on the petrol products that make things flow. This is a perfect example of how bad energy policy (not becoming self-sufficent) is coming back to bite us in the ass. The mullahs, islamonazis, mohammedans et al. know this and have used it as a very large bargaining chip. If we become cut off from our supplies of petrol from the ME then the ChiComms can really hammer us economically. They would have access to all the oil they wanted/needed and could exploit the trade deficit to do some real damage. There is now a push to bring nuke power and home drilling online but even if the support was there tomorrow it would take a minimum five years to get it on line to the point that it would make a difference. John Q. Public is too selfish to understand sacrifice like our forebears did (WWII) and screams every time the gas prices go up instead of asking really why they are going up."

Nailed it, unionblue!

Self-sufficiency is a good thing in itself, but oil is a fungible asset and the ME will continue to get ever more money for its oil from China, India, and the growing economies, regardles of where we get ours.

The fact that we now import oil and leave our own reserves in the ground is a strategic advantage, even if accidental.

This is a perfect example of how bad energy policy (not becoming self-sufficent) is coming back to bite us in the ass.

The only problem is - much easier said than done. Just how are we going to become self sufficient? We can open up every square inch of the US to oil exploration and there won't be enough oil. Granted every little bit helps - but it won't make us self-sufficient.

That's going to take converting our petroleum based economy to a nuclear-generated electric economy. That's going to take plenty of time and plenty of money.

There is no simple answer. If there were - we would have done it long ago.

We have only 3 choices:

1) continue as we have
2) convert to all-nuclear power
3)seize all the M.E. oil.

There simply isn't a fourth option.