An additional critical issue is that the majority of the planet's oil supply is in the Middle East. "Saudi Arabia is the sole oil superpower. No other producer possesses reserves close to its 263 billion barrels, which is almost twice as much as the runner-up, Iran, with 133 billion barrels." (3).

The US has traditionally been friendly with the Saudi Government, despite human rights concerns. But that friendship has costs. Some would argue that the first Gulf War was not only to liberate Kuwait, but to be sure Saudi Arabia was not Saddam's next target. With the US importing the vast majority of our oil from overseas, we will continue to have a vested interest, and ongoing involvement, in the Middle East.

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What Energy Problem?