A Difficult Lesson The United States learned the hard way after the 1973 Middle East war when Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries called a boycott to punish the United States for supporting Israel: When political and military interests intersect with access to a crucial commodity, national security cannot help but be compromised. The Soviet Union emerged as one of the primary beneficiaries, with ongoing access to cheap oil, as U.S. pump prices doubled and cars lined up for blocks outside gas stations. The Necessary Conversion Today's arch-rival is China at a time when Americans are working hard to cut greenhouse gasses by converting to electric vehicles. Since there is no such thing as a Strategic Petroleum Reserve for batteries, the United States must enter this new era better prepared by diversifying its access to battery material and boosting domestic manufacturing expertise. Dependence on China is not an option. Article By: James Banks VP of Government Affairs Derek Automotive