Following the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the idea of energy independence captured the imagination of the American people. Then during the 1980's, the accumulative effect of increased automobile fuel efficiency combined with increased global oil production created a surplus of oil on the world market. As a result, the price of oil dropped back below pre-1973 levels and America’s enthusiasm for energy independence faded into memory. Now, more than thirty years after the oil embargo, re-awakened by the terrorist attack on 9/11 and war in the Middle East, the idea of American energy independence has returned with a vengeance, becoming a powerful force shaping the political views of a new generation of Americans.

The 1973 Arab oil embargo interrupted the flow of oil causing severe gasoline shortages and long lines at gas stations. The embargo exposed America's growing oil dependence and gave the American people their first warning of the price they would pay for continued dependence on imported oil. The 1979 Iranian revolution interrupted the flow of oil again — this was the second warning, signaling the urgent need for American Energy Independence. The 1991 Persian Gulf War was a military intervention to stop one dictator from taking control of Middle East oil — this was the third and most severe warning. Failure to make energy independence the nation’s highest priority after the Gulf War demonstrated that the United States did not have the political will to free itself from dependence on foreign oil.

September 11, 2001 was a preview of America's future – one possible future.

America stands at a crossroad, a choice between two very different futures. One choice leads to increased dependence on foreign oil and a future dominated by terrorism and war. The other choice leads to American energy independence and a world economy that is no longer desperate for oil.

Today, the world consumes over 80 million barrels of oil every day (over 30 billion barrels per year); the USA alone consumes over 20 million barrels per day (over 7 billion barrels per year). At $100 per barrel, the global petroleum industry is a three trillion dollar a year business. Development of alternative energy to free the global economy from dependence on oil will create a seismic shift within the economic foundation of the world.

Oil is a natural source of energy, but it is not the only source of energy. With the help of new technology, America’s energy needs can be obtained from sources other than petroleum.  American technology has put a man on the moon, mapped the human genome, and successfully landed robotic exploration vehicles on Mars. It seems reasonable to believe that American scientists and engineers could also develop environmentally safe alternative energy technology that would free America from oil dependence.

It is time for America to lead the development of new energy technology that will free the USA and the entire world from dependence on oil. Freedom from oil dependence will cut-off the flow of oil money to the Middle East and put an end to the financial support of militant Islam.

The global expansion of militant Islam is financed by Middle East oil wealth. In the U.S. oil means gasoline. Every time you fill your gas tank, some of the money will find its way into the hands of Islamic extremists who are planning the next terrorist attack.

Is there anyone who still cannot see the connection between the flow of oil money into the Middle East and the flow of terrorism out of the Middle East?

“The meteoric rise of oil revenues in the 20th century meant a new era for Islam; oil revenues were the catalyst that converted passive resentment into Islamic Terrorism...” Nexus—Oil and Al Qaeda By Frank H. Denton, Ph.D, U.S. Foreign Service.

“The rise of terrorism by militant Islam against the United States and the West coincided with the rise in oil prices of 1979-80 and the subsequent transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars from the West to Muslim countries.” – Max Singer, senior fellow, The Hudson Institute.

How billions in oil money spawned a global terror network:

“Starting in the late 1980s—after the dual shocks of the Iranian revolution and the Soviet war in Afghanistan—Saudi Arabia's quasi-official charities became the primary source of funds for the fast-growing jihad movement. In some 20 countries, the money was used to run paramilitary training camps, purchase weapons, and recruit new members.
The charities were part of an extraordinary $70 billion Saudi campaign to spread their fundamentalist Wahhabi sect worldwide. The money helped lay the foundation for hundreds of radical mosques, schools, and Islamic centers that have acted as support networks for the jihad movement...”
The Saudi Connection By David E. Kaplan  U.S.News & World Report

“Exactly how much the Saudis have spent to spread Wahhabism is unclear.” David D. Aufhauser, a former Treasury Department general counsel, told a Senate committee that estimates went north of $75 billion. “The total spent annually is between $2 billion and $2.5 billion,” he said.

Wahhabism is a fundamentalist Islamic movement that has its roots in the extreme Islamic Takfiri ideology, which is a religious belief that encourages its followers to use violence as a means to achieve their goals.

The war against Islamic terrorism cannot be won without cutting off the flow of oil money to the Middle East

Thomas Friedman  The New York Times  Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign affairs columnist

“No matter what happens in Iraq, we cannot dry up the swamps of authoritarianism and violent Islamism in the Middle East without also drying up our consumption of oil—thereby bringing down the price of crude. A democratization policy in the Middle East without a different energy policy at home is a waste of time, money and, most important, the lives of our young people.”

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama
“At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the country that faced down the tyranny of fascism and communism is now called to challenge the tyranny of oil. For the very resource that has fueled our way of life over the last hundred years now threatens to destroy it if our generation does not act now and act boldly.  We know what the dangers are here. We know that our oil addiction is jeopardizing our national security — that we fuel our energy needs by sending $800 million a day to countries that include some of the most despotic, volatile regimes in the world. We know that oil money funds everything from the madrassas that plant the seeds of terror in young minds to the Sunni insurgents that attack our troops in Iraq.” 
Speech on Energy Policy given at the Detroit Economic Club — May 07, 2007

Strength and National Security through Energy Independence

Extremists on the political Right mistakenly believe that energy independence will mean a retreat from global economic interdependence, a direction that would disrupt the global free market and lead America toward economic and political isolation.

In contrast, extremists on the political Left mistakenly believe energy independence will mean independence from all hydrocarbons and nuclear energy. Green extremists confuse energy independence with environmental issues. Energy and environmental issues do converge in the issues of resource sustainability and environmental pollution, but otherwise energy independence is not an environmental issue.

It is important to understand that energy independence does not mean closed borders or economic isolation. Energy independence will be achieved by producing abundant, clean and affordable domestic energy through advanced technology that will enable all countries to do the same. The path to American Energy Independence leads to global energy independence.

Energy Independence is a civilization changing “idea” like freedom, one that should be thought of much like we think of our national independence—our liberty, which is both an ideal and physical reality. Energy Independence can and should be pursued with the same patriotic spirit that fought for, won and sustains American democracy and freedom.

The United States has successfully created and maintained international relationships without compromising the freedom of American citizens. For example, the USA has interdependent relationships with other countries, both economically and militarily — however, if America’s economic or military “interdependence” becomes “dependence” to the point of undermining our national independence or economic security, there will be a public outcry... much like we see today regarding America's oil dependence.

From an economic point of view, energy independence means Energy Security (supply and price stability) — an objective that can be achieved through the combination of new energy production using advanced technology and mutual self-reliance between nations, where two or more countries are joined by economic interdependence and a shared philosophy regarding human rights and freedoms.

Today, over 80 percent of world petroleum reserves are state-owned — controlled by countries that have the power to manipulate supply and price with impunity — this fact goes directly to the heart of energy security.

Politically, Energy Independence is a slogan—a public outcry—expressed by citizens demanding government leadership in energy production, distribution and security.

The phrase “Energy Independence” is a patriotic slogan—a public outcry by citizens demanding a return to economic balance and protection from vulnerability created by over-dependence on imported oil.

Read more at  Energy Independence and National Security

References:
1973 oil embargo
1979 energy crisis
1991 Persian Gulf War
2001 September 11^th USA
2003 Iraq war - In Progress
The Hubbert Peak for World Oil Production
World Oil Market and Oil Price Chronologies: 1970 - 2006
World Oil Price Chronologies and Projection: 2006 - 2009

Online Documentaries:
Addicted to Oil — Discovery Channel documentary, reported by Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign affairs columnist, Thomas L. Friedman
Saudi Time Bomb — A PBS investigation

Recommended reading:
Our Energy Challenge By Nobel Laureate Richard E. Smalley
Nexus—Oil and Al Qaeda By Frank H. Denton, PhD, U.S. Foreign Service (Retired)
Saudis remain the world’s prime source of terror financing
   — By Josh Meyer,  Los Angeles Times  April 2, 2008
“Saudi Arabia remains the world's leading source of money for Al Qaeda and other extremist networks and has failed to take key steps requested by U.S. officials to stem the flow... the Saudi government has not taken important steps to go after those who finance terrorist organizations or to prevent wealthy donors from bankrolling extremism through charitable contributions, sometimes unwittingly. Saudi Arabia today remains the location where more money is going to terrorism, to Sunni terror groups and to the Taliban than any other place in the world.
 ...Americans who pay more than $100 a barrel for oil are in effect bankrolling extremism because wealthy Saudis “back-door” their profits into charities that fund extremist causes.”