Well put.
And I think there must be all of 100 people that realize that....
Evidence suggests to me that mankind is in short supply of even the most modest quantity of simple deductive reasoning, and I've managed to be cursed with just enough to see the obvious (ignorance actually can be bliss, I've decided.)
What is obvious is that just the threat of an economic blockade against the US would be sufficient to cut this nation's lifeline. And, if one wonders how much of this nation would respond, one has only to look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.