One of the criticisms of US foreign policy in the Middle East is that the US government spends hundreds of billions of dollars a year to maintain a military presence there which can be seen as an energy subsidy (that protects the energy supply and allows oil companies to modernize oil extraction in Iraq). The huge US naval presence in the Straits of Hormuz is classic gunboat diplomacy aimed directly at Iran.
The US has to import 60% of the oil that it uses, but according to statistics most of this does not actually come from the Middle East, but from Canada, Venezuela, etc. However, if Iran chose to reduce oil production to a halt, it could wreak worldwide economic havoc by doubling the price.
If the Iraq war is a direct (or indirect) consequence of making sure to maintain the "American way of life", this 'subsidy' does not only benefit Americans. What about other countries that import a lot of oil who have stayed out of the whole Iraq mess? Why aren't they paying their fair share?
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