If we are in Iraq for oil, why is gas so high? Wouldn't our gas prices be cheaper?

It's always discussed that we are in Iraq for Oil/Money/Power, but if we are there for the oil, why is our gas prices so high? Wouldn't they be cheaper if we were taking their oil?

Nobody is taking their oil. Lots of people are buying it. But because we don't get and have never gotten much of our oil from them, Iraqi production doesn't affect US prices. Our primary source is Canada. Followed by Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Nigeria.

The lack of price decline in the US is often touted as an argument against the notion that we are there for oil, but only because people don't think far enough ahead. We're securing resources for the next century, not just the next week. It's not the only reason by far, but it's high on the list.

It makes sense thanks. I was thinking we were there for the oil and power, but I was wondering if we were, why were the gas prices still so high? But the U.S. Government doesn't know how to manage their money anyways. But it does make sense to secure it for a century.

reply to post by jca2005


You don't actually think that our going to Iraq to 'secure' their oil was ever intended to help the general population, do you? Be sure, there are a number of people getting obscenely wealthy from our Middle East adventures. You and I are simply not on that short list.

I think that the increase in prices is less attributable to the state of affairs in the Middle East and more to do with the infinite "growth" required by our monetary system. It's not just gasoline.

Everyone wants to talk about issues that are symptoms of the same root problem.

At least that's the conclusion I have come to, based on my reasearch to this point. It's inescapable if the current system remains in place.

Eventually, the dollar will be worth less than the cost to print the damned thing. As it stands, the dollar only represents the obligation to pay the interest attached to it when it was initially printed. It's disgusting.