The continued reliance on imported fossil fuels presents significant economic, political, military and strategic challenges to the United States. The purchase of energy sources from outside the U.S. is typically not a problem, until they are purchased from unfriendly and unstable parts of the world. The U.S. is also facing a challenge to its global leadership. The rise of Chinese and Indian economic and political power complicates the execution of U.S. National Security Strategy. Additionally, the absence of the U.S. has not stopped the momentum towards international environmental agreements and the U.S. risks being left behind. Finally, the U.S. expends significant levels of human, political and monetary capital to ensure access to foreign sources of energy