To borrow a line from James Carville, it’s the oil, stupid. Much of the commentary on the Egyptian uprising has failed to address the underlying strategic issue for United States foreign policy: our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. It is our continued dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil that compels Washington to remain deeply engaged in a region which, according to poll after poll, is rabidly anti-American.
Relative to other states in the region, Egypt is not a major oil exporter. But Egypt has been a stable ally of the U.S. in a turbulent region for the last thirty years. Egypt fought alongside U.S. forces during the Gulf War and has honored its peace treaty with Israel, thus preventing another major…
What would energy independence really mean for American foreign policy? For years, politicians on both sides of the aisle have paid lip service to energy independence as a worthy national goal. During the 2008 presidential campaign, energy independence was likened to the space race of the 1950s and 60s. President Obama declared that the U.S. should strive to be energy independent by 2020. Despite the rhetoric, an aggressive strategy for achieving energy independence has yet to be adopted. America’s dependence on foreign oil is one of the most acute foreign policy challenges facing the United States. Energy independence would dramatically reduce the number of our costly overseas engagements enabling us…