West African instability clogs huge oil source

The United States is becoming increasingly dependent on oil from a region beset by official corruption, tottering governments, violent criminal syndicates and religious and ethnic strife: West Africa.

The combination of petroleum and trouble ultimately may put the vast, rich oil fields there in a league with the Persian Gulf. In the latter, American energy needs require massive security commitments, including military bases and constant presence of U.S. warships, and U.S. troops have been embroiled in two wars.

The Star-Ledger