The threat (to the U.S) is that these countries have the Oil reserves. www.boardgamebeast.com/images/risk-board-game-strategies-21294771.jpg The price of oil is based on supply, demand, and the dollar, if we control two of the three than we control the Oil countries. seekingalpha.com/wp-content/seekingalpha/images/HamburgerEater.jpg The cheaper dollars allows me to eat a $1.00 hamburger today and pay you back 75 cents in the future