http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/06/us-iea-contingency-idUSTRE8051FV20120106Releasing stockpiles isn't the answer to Iranian threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz, that's like giving a band aid to someone who just had their leg shot off. So far I think all this Persian sabre-rattling is all bark and no bite...I think they're trying to forestall sanctions while the prepare for an Israeli strike. But if they want do go full stupid the rest of the world is prepared. The Stennis is on station and the Vinson should be there soon and the if not already, the Lincoln is in nearby Thailand and we always have 2-3 carriers surge-ready, as well as two LHD's on station with accompanying screening vessels. The Brits have one of their top line destroyers coming with another on the way and stuff can come from air and through the Suez pretty quickly, as well as from bases in the area. If the Persians mess with the flow of oil they are cutting their own throats, and their domestic refinery capacity is poor and they have zero chance of surviving any kind of military confrontation.
The best thing (something which even this Reuters article mentions) we can do is help the UAE finish their Abu Dhabi pipeline by passing the strait. Together with the Saudi pipeline to the Red Sea, a significant amount of oil can be transited beyond the strait and away from Persian meddling.
Of course getting The Regime here at home removed would go a long way toward sane policy too, get some
drill-baby-drill action geared up among other things!
