Oh yeah, they didn't think about it before invading Iraq, eh Georges?
Nor in Afgahnistan for that matter. Really, you should have called them to warn them ...
It is not very difficult to protect a pipeline from small explosive charges ... the simplest solution is to bury it;
And even if the pipe breaks from time to time, repairing it costs much less than what it can save the rest of the time it is in operation.
"For the hot spots" it is enough to put on GI's patrols and militarize the ports. Nothing could be simpler for the country of the "military-industrial complex".
In addition, thousands of km of pipe lines are practically inaccessible to the populations because they are located in the middle of the desert, especially in Iraq and Iran.
It's perfectly playable and
don't think americans are dumb kids... Although from time to time they get bogged down
Politiquement in a conflict (Viet Nam, Iraq ... soon Iran?), they are the finest strategists in the world, but without any qualms, supported by the power and the most advanced military technology ...
Their vision of the 3rd millennium is the Wild West, disguised by organizations they lead wherever they want, and legitimizing their action, such as NATO and the UN ...
except they have the biggest super-fast trigger gun