[alaskanfan]

Look at it the other way around -- the cost of extracting oil in most other parts of the world is LOWER than in the U.S. The red tape and all that crap you mentioned plays a role, but I think the biggest factor is that the U.S. dollar is very strong against almost every foreign currency. Canadian oil companies get $45 per barrel in their currency when the price is at $30 ($US) per barrel.

Given the choice of exporting petro dollars and importing terrorism or paying more for gas at the pump. I wonder what the U.S. response would be?

How many U.S. lives should we be willing to sacrifice for cheap gas.

And then there is the question of the direct effect on the U.S. economy. How much has 9-11 cost the U.S. in lost jobs and fear based economic depression?

While the initial cost might be higher, I'm not certain about the long term costs.

[Alberta's Child]

Given the choice of exporting petro dollars and importing terrorism or paying more for gas at the pump. I wonder what the U.S. response would be?

The U.S. response is given to you every day of the week. Not just at the pump, but in every shopping mall in this country where people spent billions of dollars on imported goods.