You've nailed it Dale. That is exactly why the free flow of oil is a vital national interest. Other tenets of our Natonal Security Strategy are to promote representative government and maintain stability throughout the world. Defending an aggressed nation such as Kuwait would certainly fall under that realm. So the free flow of oil was not the only reason we defended Kuwait. But it certainly was the one that transcended all others.

Like you said alternative energy is the solution. How soon we get there is the key. We put a man on the moon didn't we? Take the billions ($100 ?) we're spending now for the war effort. How far could that go in R&D? Boggles the mind.