National security consequences of oil dependency

The United States is the largest oil importer in the world, bringing in 13.5 million barrels per day (mbd), which accounts for 63.5 percent of total U.S. daily consumption (20.6 mbd).[1] Oil from the Middle East–specifically, the Persian Gulf–accounts for 20 percent of U.S. oil imports, and this dependence is growing. By 2017, the U.S. will be importing approx