Question

How might the issue of oil have influenced U.S. foreign policy during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush?

Answer 1

Both initiated actions that focused on the Middle East, most importantly, on Iraq.

It's a tricky question and it really depends on whose point of view you want to look at the country with. There are arguments that although something had to be done to curb Saddam's power and push him out, the United States and the West might not have paid as much attention to him militarily if oil wasn't as large a factor. During the 80s, for example, Saddam was actually supported by the United States because of the Iraq-Iran War, and Iran was considered to be extremely hostile to US interests at the time.