If a country in that region of the world were to launch a massive attack against the oil terminals where we buy so much of the stuff, it would be a de facto attack against us.
So many US haters say that this or that action is "all about oil." A more patriotic way of putting it is that "it's all about protecting free trade with our partners."
We use almost all of the oil we can produce or buy...if we were to lose 10% or more of it our economy and way of life would crumble...sort of like if we were to lose a war.
Ron Paul's vision of an attack on America is an attack on the homeland. His vision apparently doesn't coalesce with the idea that an attack on America's worldwide partnerships is a de facto attack on us. This is a very dangerous approach to take in today's global marketplace.