[identity profile] yechezkiel.livejournal.com 2010-04-02 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
There is only one reason I can think of: Strategic reserve.

If US oil reserves are really as large as people say, that's a significant advantage if something like peak oil actually occurs. But I doubt anyone is thinking this way, but it'd be hard to know, as you can't really go around saying that.