>I can't agree with that entirely (in part yes). I agree Iraq has had an effect, but not the greatest. The largest increase in gas prices (and oil) have been since hurricane katrina. At that time, it was blamed on hurricane katrina, but it never went back down afterwards. It only rose. The largest increases have been in the last 12 months and what is different between the periods of 2003-2007 and 2007-2008? Iraq cannot explain it all. I lean more towards control of the market, media, and futures (and perhaps an external desire to see the U.S. economy collapse).

Dollar devaluation, speculation based on flawed peak-oil theory and technical chartists capitalizing on the latest parabolic bubble are the 3 greatest contributers to the run up in oil. The Iraq war, like the rising demand of China and India are minimal contributers but they make great sound bites for the masses to repeat over and over like gospel.

>>Tracy, not sure what you're seeing inside the US, but elsewhere other things are being said about the price of oil. Sample: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/oil-a-global-crisis-834023.html