Is the U.S. holding too much oil in reserve? (10-24-14)

http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/24/news/u-s-oil-reserve/index.html?iid=H_E_News

The United States has an enormous emergency stock pile of oil, enough to sustain the country for 106 days. Debate has risen as to whether we should tap into that particular supply, as the USA is producing more oil than ever before.

I think that the strategic reserve is undoubtedly vital in protection of America in case oil becomes more difficult to get. If we are producing more than ever before, why would we risk using some of our emergency stockpile of petroleum oil? Prices are going to slowly decrease anyway. There's a point that we we could lower prices even more, but there'd be serious consequences later in case of a shortage of or inability to get oil, like in 20011 we used some of the supply when there was war in Libya. It is far better to have a prepared nation than one that risks a fatal energy shortage in times of crisis. We talk in class about special interest groups, and this is one example, companies who use or sell oil certainly want a piece of the reserve, while others oppose it. It's great the USA is growing again in oil production and moving away from foreign oil dependence, but, lets not get too hasty and get rid of reserves now, we never know when another recession will hit.