Regarding "petrol", or oil as I call it - North and South America have enough to supply themselves for decades without importing it from other sources overseas. We as a planet also have the ability to move away from petroleum within 15 years, if we truly wanted to. However, there is more at stake than the "oil based economy", this question also revolves around the rights of all people to exist, and the responsibility of all people to acknowledge that right for others. If you abrogate (deny) the responsibility - such as a recent quote from a certain Iranian president did regarding Israel, then you forfeit your own right to exist as well.

So yes - PC aside, I say lets make some really big glass parking lots - would give all the oil workers places to park while they pump the goo from the ground to feed the responsible world's economies.

And I wont even discuss the issue of security and religious "freedom"!!!

Good Hunting!
CC