http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/world/middleeast/07tanker.html?hp This sort of attack in the Straits has the ability to paralyze oil shipments, as the article points out. It also has the ability for big anti-American PR victories in the Middle East. Though a lot of this PR is no doubt manufactured by some MENA governments, attacks done by rogue groups against Western shipping interests from Iran controlled territory are no doubt tacitly permitted by Iran in order to drum up some good PR for Iran from those who would love to sell America oil, only to see it never reach America. Rinse and repeat. It's similar to the idea that the Revolutionary Guard was assisting Shia militias in Iraq. Become a regional hegemon by influencing its geographical sphere. Though this bombing was fairly unsuccessful (the tanker was barely damaged and oil prices didn't rise), there's a great solution to what will no doubt soon be frequent tanker attacks; Battery technology.
Though oil is used for more than powering cars, reducing our dependence on oil, both foreign and domestic, will be good for our environment and our R&D departments. Battery powered cars are coming, slowly. They won't be successful until people aren't afraid their battery will run out on the way to Chipotle. New battery technology is an area of interest to me, both to study and invest in.
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