What precisely are the costs of U.S. foreign oil dependence? Unfortunately, no one has yet offered a satisfactory answer to this vital question. As a result, the costs to the United States of its dependence on oil from abroad have gone largely unrecognized and, in fact, are much greater than most people realize. Some costs, like the annual bill for oil imports₂and, by reflection, the price that motorists pay at the pump or the size of homeownersα heating oil bills₂are obvious and quantifiable. A number of others, however, are not so apparent or easy to measure. For example, it is difficult to put a price tag on the costs of coddling oil-rich authoritarian regimes at the expense of promoting representative government, human rights, and other important values.

Introduction : the benefits and costs of foreign oil dependence -- Taking the measure of U.S. foreign oil dependence -- The economic costs and risks of U.S. foreign oil dependence -- U.S. economic policy responses and their costs -- U.S. foreign policy responses and their costs -- U.S. military responses and their costs -- Unintended consequences of U.S. external policy responses : increasing the threat -- Conclusion : reducing the costs of U.S. foreign oil dependence.