VK; I think who started the wars is as important as anything else. Why make a point more inflammatory than it is. The whole world, led by us is concerned about the middle east oil reserves. We've always led, but it not a totally US problem or concern.

I hear what you're saying about the cost of procuring the oil from our own fields as opposed to the costs of just buying foreign oil, but it is also true that the oil industry has been trying to secure oil drilling rights and to be able to drill on previously approved sites on land and sea and has been denied time after time, so your points, while valid, are not the whole story by any means.

If gas prices rise to untenable heights the ones who get hurt first are the low income families and those with fixed incomes. The only reason gas is as high as it is now is because of taxation and not the cost of bringing the product to the pump.