R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator, agrees with me:

The American Spectator, Close Down Those Embassies

... with energy independence we can close our embassies in lands where they are endangered or perhaps stand as a provocation to the passing mobs. In the modern world, diplomatic business can be carried on in civilized countries rather than in dangerous backwaters. We can treat a Libyan or Tunisian envoi in Geneva, Switzerland or possibly in New York at the United Nations complex. Diplomats from those countries would still be free to visit New York City. It would be a shame, if civilized citizens of Islam could no longer line up at our embassies or consulates for visas to the United States, but such is life. If there was business to be transacted, the businessmen could always transact it on the telephone or, for the advanced, the Internet.

Probably there would not be much business transacted once we are energy independent. The world would be a more peaceful place. The forward-marching nations would be happy and contented in the 21st century. The Islamic nations would be happy or angry or whatever in the 10th century, possibly earlier. They could reside in any century the chose. If an Arab potentate wanted heart surgery, he could fly off to foreign parts for the procedure. And if an indigenous mob wanted to go wild, its members could burn down the local Chinese embassy. Again, it will be interesting to see how the Chinese respond to such madness.