U.S. energy boom proposed as Ukraine bargaining tool.

The article can be found here.

   The U.S. energy boom continues to expand with record-setting natural gas production and petroleum product exports, prompting debate about its use as political leverage over countries like Russia (article). Some members of Congress suggest that we can use our natural gas exports to weaken Russia's hold over Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Energy experts say this time frame and other factors make it highly unlikely that the United States will be able to use its natural gas production to defuse the current crisis in Crimea.

   I think that this is a nice idea, but it's not really possible for us right now. We are just still so reliant on other countries for things like gasoline, we still import a substantial amount of energy. But if this all did work for us, I think that it would be a good idea for us to be an important supplier of goods to these close knit countries. It would give us a strong hold in our foreign policies with them. If only we lived in a world where we all help and receive help with all the other countries. Unfortunately it isn't all that simple, but sometime down the line we will (hopefully) find something that can help us better connect with these seemingly fragile (and potentially dangerous) countries.