Hillbilly wisdom: there is and continues to be plenty of energy within the world. Supply and demand plus a little manipulation determines the price of said energy. The OPEC + nations are increasing the level of production starting in August. This will bring the price of energy down providing they are able to ship it. The increase in production is to increase their market share. It can only be accomplished if the situation in the Middle East changes. The joint actions of Israel and the United States (invasion of Iran) disrupted the flow of energy from that area. This allowed those still producing oil (United States corporations) to increase their profit margins.

The return to normal distribution of oil can only be accomplished if the military actions in the region stop. The presence of the United States in the region determines if the Gulf States are able to safely increase oil production. More or less US presence depending upon your point of view.

The United States does not need to project strength through military actions that serve no purpose but to enrich private companies. The inherent risk of inadvertent escalation that the United States’ continued presence causes does not benefit the citizens of the United States.

The world knows about the United States military. The military is formidable and more than adequate to protect our interest when those national interest are challenged. The problem is determining and separating the national interest from the interest of the private corporations. The military does an excellent job when called upon. When the objective is clearly stated, it is attainable. The waste of our military’s armaments in conflicts that do not reflect the national interest should be stopped. The interruption of the oil’s worldwide distribution benefited the private energy corporations but did not benefit the United States citizens.

Strategic withdrawal of oil reserves

Strategic oil reserves are a hedge against global energy disruptions. The reserve was established (1975) to stabilize global energy markets, manage supply disruptions and curb price spikes. The United States is publicly owned and has a capacity of 714 million barrels. Today (7-9-26) the reserve is down to 319.5 million barrels- lowest point since April 1988.

Past withdraws 1991 Desert Storm; 2005 Hurricane Katrina; 2011 Libya; 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine; and 2026 Iran war show the wisdom of having reserves. World events (controlled and otherwise) disrupt the flows of energy.

On March 11, 2025 Energy Secretary Chris Wright made the following statement, “32 IEA member states joined Trump in an emergency draw of 400 million barrels to support price stability due too disruption in the Middle East”. The United States portion of the draw would be 172 million barrels and would be replaced within a year with 200 million barrels at no cost to the American consumer. What a deal. It is coming. Don’t worry. Trump says so according to Sec. Wright.