President Carter, 1976-80, was aware of the dangers of oil dependence. He said that we must not find ourselves in the position of having to fight wars to seize other people's oil; a couple of decades of transition to renewable energy sources would ensure the stability and future of America without destabilising the rest of the world. He put in place incentives to achieve solar-heated homes, windmill-powered communities and fuel alternatives to petrol. Ronald Reagan, on achieving office, immediately removed Carter's solar panels from the roof of the White House and repealed his tax incentives. The US dependence on oil imports now results in military action wherever there are significant oil reserves.
Saudi Arabia, with the biggest reserves, had a US army presence on its sacred land, a US-trained defence force for its rulers, a US fleet in the Gulf and, under the 'Woolsey Plan', it could be broken up and a US protectorate installed in the oil-rich area. Iraq, with the second biggest reserves, was invaded and subjected to military occupation. The Caspian has significant reserves so, through the Afghan war, the US established permanent military bases in all Central Asian republics - Secretary of State Colin Powell said "America will have a continuing interest and presence in Central Asia of a kind that we could not have dreamed of before."
