Since the pundits are still dissecting the State of the Union message, I’ll add my two cents’ worth.

President Bush’s vow to replace 75 percent of oil imports from the Middle East with alternative fuels by 2025 was greeted with a great deal of understandable skepticism. But I have yet to hear anyone ask the question, What percent of U.S. energy imports come from the Middle East?

What percent do you think, readers? Is it 50 percent? 70 percent?

Actually, it’s about 20 percent. Since the OPEC oil embargo of 30 years ago, the U.S. has wisely diversified its energy suppliers. Today, we import more oil from Canada than we do from Saudi Arabia.

When we add that piece of information to the equation, President Bush’s goal, while still very ambitious, appears much more realistic.

Even more so when you factor in the upward pressure on oil prices that will be exerted over the next quarter century by the growing economies of the developing world – especially China. As oil prices climb, alternative fuels will become more price-competitive.

I know that presidents have been promising to make the U.S. energy independent for years, but I’m willing to cut the president some slack on this issue. I think that market forces will work in his favor.