Instead of spending all that money attempting something that COULD fail, why not just occupy OPEC and TAKE what we need?
Actually, we don't have to just take it. We can occupy the countries, make then states 51-58, and give them some kind of "just" compensation for their natural resources.
We get the oil we need. Those people get the civilization they need. And lots of people feeling bored in the continental US would get lots of room to stretch out and expand...
Mark W.
And boy, do they need it!