In a nutshell, Dave has it pegged. It makes no difference where the product is, the enviro-nazis will attack any extraction attempts with all their might; legal,illegal, political or whatever.
Their lies and distortions of the DIRE ecological damage caused by oil & gas exploration and production are without end. The goal is to force us into EXPENSIVE alternative renewables and they care not one whit about the consequences. Bear in mind that this philosophy fits the leftist/socialist agenda to a tee.
ANWR could replace Saudi imports for 20-25 years, but you'll never hear the lefist pussies who care so much about sending "our sons and daughters" to peril in the middle east over Iraq, mention that they will gladly send them there to protect the vital petro-supply lines. We have the ability to be almost self-sufficient, given no constraints on Alaskan production, offshore California and Florida, increased coal fired plants (200 year supply of coal) and increased usage of the CHEAPEST source of power--NUCLEAR. That'll never happen thanks to the enviro-nazis and their Hollywood support system.
One final note, have you all noticed how the democRATS are trying out voter fraud on South Dakota Indian reservations? Just remember how the RATS sold out the Native American tribe next to ANWR that was 100% for its development and would have gained immensely, with employment in high paying jobs, monetary boost to their local economy, etc., etc.