force to gain control of the persian gulf region a u.s. foreign policy doctrine that was first articulated during an energy crisis in the 1970s, put into action during the gulf war in the 1990s and that must not stand. and then brought to its full potential in 2003 do not destroy oil wells. a source of wealth that belongs to the iraqi people. that foreign policy doctrine is not a thing of the past. even as america has upped our own oil production, the commitment to defend the international free flow of oil by force remains. the united states of america is prepared to use all elements of our power, including military force to secure our core interests in the region. we will ensure the free flow of energy from the region to the world. the u.s. interest in the persian gulf region are always first and foremost about oil. oil and war mix. and they re mixing today and they re going to mix a lot more.