Oil cushion has vanished

How vulnerable is the Saudi oil industry to kamikazes bent on sacrificing their lives for the sake of disrupting the world economy? Despite Saudi assurances that their facilities have the best protection in the world, the terrorists were still able to penetrate the outer perimeter of Abqaiq before they were killed.

Reducing petroleum consumption, especially in the transportation sector, where two-thirds of U.S. oil is consumed, could also help restore some wiggle room to oil markets. By shifting to domestically produced transportation fuels like ethanol and methanol, or by driving more efficient hybrid vehicles, Americans can reduce their vulnerability to supply disruptions. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles could tap into the grid and use made-in-America electricity; unlike in the 1970s, today only 2 percent of U.S. electricity is generated from oil. In many cases of national security, the best defense against foreign foes begins at home. Technology may not be able to wean us from oil altogether, but it can reduce U.S. vulnerability to an energy Pearl Harbor.

orlandosentinel