As long as the United States - and the world - gets its oil from the Middle East, we will be drawn into the endless crises that seem endemic to the region. American energy independence would not only liberate us, it would also drive down the worldwide price of oil.

In this quote, Kathleen Troia McFarland, a former U.S. government official, argues that the United States' reliance on oil from the Middle East is a major factor in the nation’s ongoing involvement in the region's crises. She suggests that the U.S., along with the rest of the world, is continually drawn into conflicts and tensions in the Middle East because of its dependence on the region’s oil supplies. McFarland implies that these endless crises are a direct consequence of the global need for Middle Eastern oil, which often leads to geopolitical instability and military interventions.

McFarland’s statement further proposes that achieving American energy independence—where the U.S. no longer relies on foreign oil—would have significant positive outcomes. Not only would it free the U.S. from entanglement in the Middle East, but it would also have a ripple effect on the global oil market. By reducing demand for oil from the Middle East, energy independence could lower the worldwide price of oil, making it more affordable for consumers and lessening the geopolitical leverage that oil-rich nations hold.

The quote reflects McFarland's belief in the potential of domestic energy production to reshape U.S. foreign policy and global economics. If the U.S. could meet its energy needs through alternative sources, such as renewable energy or domestic oil production, it would no longer be beholden to the fluctuations of Middle Eastern politics and could reduce its military and diplomatic involvement in the region. This would also reduce the influence that oil-producing countries in the Middle East have over global energy markets.

Ultimately, McFarland’s argument is a call for the U.S. to pursue energy independence as a means to not only secure its own economic and strategic interests but also contribute to global stability. By freeing itself from reliance on Middle Eastern oil, the U.S. could shift its focus away from conflict and toward more sustainable and peaceful energy solutions.