Do we really care about fighting this "terrorism" thing?
As this latest terror attack in Bali demonstrates, the terrorists are smart enough to attack countries where it hurts most, in their money belts. An attack like this one is clearly supposed to have an effect on the tourism industry, which would do a lot of damage to the economy.

It may sound simplistic, but we could put the terrorists out of business if we made it our priority to end our dependence on their oil. Without our money, which we give them so freely, they'd have to go back to living in tents across their vast wastelands that they're so intent to expel us from. They hate our Western culture, but they certainly don't mind taking our money and living in cities that resemble our decadent, evil society.

In this day and age we should be able to put our scientists to work on developing vehicles that are powered by alternative fuels or, even better, on an efficient and powerful non-combustion engine (which would also do wonders for the environment in addition to putting the terrorists out of business).

Yes, I know that this will probably not happen until things get so bad that there's no other choice. That's usually the only way that any real progress ever gets made. There are too many friends of too many powerful people who make a lot of money from the oil industry in this country. We live not in a democracy, but in a corporatocracy. What the big business leaders want/need, the big business leaders get. Every member of Congress has gotten there with the money and support from big business, especially the oil industry and pharmaceutical companies.

I don't see alternative fuels or non-combustion engines as a big threat to the auto industry, though. Somebody would have to make these new vehicles, so it might as well be the corporations that already exist. Our oil barons could still supply our need for fuel to use in heating homes and its other pursposes, like making plastics. Perhaps we produce enough oil within our own borders, and in other countries like Venezuela, to keep our oil company executives fat and satisfied.