goals for future arguments to make us more dependent on China instead of the ME.

"Fracking has given America virtual energy independence, freeing it from the leverage of unstable and often hostile Middle East regimes. The result is less need to interfere in the chronic squabbling in the oil-rich but unstable Persian Gulf."


We could probably be actually energy independent from the ME with little effort, pain, and ramp up time if that's the concern (and it is a valid one). And yes, that can and should include alternative energies. But as long as the ME keeps selling cheap oil, and needing to for their own survival, there isn't that much incentive or need to.

Oddly it's the same folks fighting so hard for "green energy" so we can be energy independent, that fight energy independence moves the hardest.