The need for a vigorous US military role in protecting energy assets abroad has been a major theme in American foreign policy since 1945, when President Roosevelt met with King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia and promised to protect the kingdom in return for privileged access to Saudi oil. In the most famous expression of this linkage, President Carter affirmed in January 1980 that the unimpeded flow of Persian Gulf oil is among this country's vital interests and that to protect this interest, the United States will employ "any means necessary, including military force." This principle was later cited by President Reagan... during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 and protecting [Kuwaiti oil tankers] with US warships... [and again] invoked by George H. W. Bush as a justification for the Gulf War of 1991... The use of military force to protect the flow of imported petroleum has generally enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Washington... George W. Bush has avidly sought an increased US military presence in Africa's oil-producing regions, going so far as to [establish] a US Africa Command (Africom)... It is very hard for mainstream Democrats to challenge Bush when he says that an "enduring" US military presence is needed in Iraq... It will be hard for the Democrats to avert a US attack on Iran if this can be portrayed as a necessary move to prevent Tehran from threatening the long-term safety of Persian Gulf oil supplies.
-- The Nation, 11/12/2007