[glitchc]

Well, the US military might is reliant on a resource it does not actually produce locally (in sufficient quantities). If the govt. did not exert control over other sources, it would quickly lose access, rendering much of the heavy machinery useless. The Navy is the most vulnerable to an oil shortage.

[eggsmediumrare]

The US is an energy exporter now.

[glitchc]

All crude is not created equal. Jet fuel for instance is dominantly refined from light sweet crude, for which the Middle East is the best source. While one can refine shale oil into jet fuel, the process is more complicated and expensive. It is worth noting that US does refine most of its own jet fuel within the country, and it’s only raw crude that it needs to buy.