WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama’s promise Thursday to work to “end our dependence” on Middle East oil within a decade may be good political rhetoric when Americans have been paying $4 a gallon at the gas pumps, but the goal likely would be difficult — perhaps impossible — to achieve and flies in the face of how global oil markets work.

The United States uses about 21 million barrels of oil products a day. Even if the United States cuts oil demand by about 10 percent, equivalent to Persian Gulf oil imports, it is likely to continue to rely on oil imports and make no distinction as to where it is pumped, energy experts say.

Obama’s pledge to cut dependents on foreign oil is a key element of his overall energy policy, which envisions aggressive development of alternative fuels and technologies to improve energy efficiency.