In this case, couldn't we use OIL as a strategic weapon? Drill our own, drive the price down, and bankrupt these countries faster. If you'll notice, Iran and Venezuela are lower on the list than SA, meaning they need high oil prices too.
We could be self dependent in 5 years and not purchase a drop from any country. For the most part, oil is being drilled on private property. Liberals and Env. nuts do not want drilling on federal land. The government owns most of the land west of the MS river. Open those up and we could be a net exporter of crude.
That will never happen because the government wants high energy prices so that they can promote wind, solar and electric power.