War games have long been used to prepare the military for battle, but what about the national threat of a global energy crisis? According to an advocacy group called Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), Middle East turmoil, a shaky national economy, and heavy dependence on foreign oil have combined to make America’s energy supply “dangerously vulnerable.”

SAFE recently held “Oil Shockwave,” a simulation of what could happen if a terrorist attack on major Saudi Arabian oil fields triggered oil shortages, military action, and a global spike in energy prices. The exercise brought together former top government and military officials, who were given roles on a mock National Security Committee, and charged with leading the country out of the ensuing chaos. energyNOW! anchor Thalia Assuras observed the war game to see how the United States and global energy markets could respond on a terrorist attack on Saudi Arabian oil fields.

The crisis scenario begins with an Al-Qaeda attack on the world’s largest oil processing plant, which cripples Saudi Arabia’s petroleum production and drives oil prices to $173 a barrel. The situation escalates when Bahraini naval vessels, with support from the U.S. Navy, intercept and fire upon Iranian boats suspected of involvement in the attack. A ripple effect ensues, with Iran and Venezuela teaming to jointly cut OPEC production by 15 percent, which sends oil skyrocketing to $200 a barrel. America soon faces $6 a gallon gasoline, and tough energy choices.

While this type of energy crisis is unprecedented, it’s not unrealistic. “I would rate the scenario as pretty darn realistic,” said John Negroponte, former Director of National Intelligence.

Simulation participants agreed the United States is extremely vulnerable to a potential Middle East energy crisis but potential solutions abound. “This notion that you can either be green or you can be black oil is crazy,” said Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor. “We want to go to alternative energy, but everybody knows they’re going to take time to develop. So it is always, in this case, ‘all of the above.”

Work to transition the U.S. energy industry may have begun, and Shockwave participants said they have faith America can develop new energy sources and innovations to transition away from dependence on foreign oil, but time is running short. “We should be ringing the alarm bells and the sirens, to drive the political leadership to make some decisions to get on with the future, because we are more vulnerable than most people know,” said John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil.