Why was a taker transiting refined oil to the Middle East?

Why doesn't OPEC and the Middle East refine their own petrol? Why was a taker transiting refined oil to the Middle East?
As I understand it, because of the ';threat of terrorism';, the US government does not use ';local oil'; for at least some sectors of the US military, but rather imports oil ~ usually from imported sources ~ ! This is perhaps the most blatant silliness type ';bilk'; in the US Arms procurement system. But at 20+ million a pop, would you risk engine troubles you could avoid on your jets? Why was a taker transiting refined oil to the Middle East?
Any knuckle dragging ape can pull oil out of the ground, but refining it takes a little bit of brains.