In this case I think domestic oil production serves as a failsafe against the doomsday scenario of a war in the middle east cutting off foreign oil imports. It'

In this case I think domestic oil production serves as a failsafe against the doomsday scenario of a war in the middle east cutting off foreign oil imports. It's not nearly enough to meet our normal demand but it's enough to make sure thousands, maybe millions, of people don't starve to death when the trucks stop rolling. It keeps the military going so they can "stabilize" the situation. I'd argue the war in Iraq was for basically the same purpose. If that doomsday scenario happens we're going to look back at these events much differently.