"those imports count for less than 50% of the oil needs of the USA."

But without that percentage, the USA would be in chaos - remember the 70s? Lines at petrol pumps, etc? - Foolestroupe.

USA uses 20 million barrels per day, it imports approximately half of that, mostly from Canada and Venezuela. What it gets from the Persian Gulf region is minute, what it is supposed to be "stealing" from Iraq is miniscule and they are paying market price for it.

By the bye, Foolestroupe, you are talking about events that happened nearly 40 years ago, the world and the Oil & Gas industry has changed a great deal since those days. As far as Iraq's oil goes the US did very well without it for the best part of 17 years.