The Virginian-Pilot
©
WASHINGTON
The war in Iraq and a potential American withdrawal from that country have “ripple effects that certainly will ripple all the way into the U.S.” America’s top military commander in Iraq told lawmakers today.
Under questioning by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-4th District, Gen. David Petraeus suggested that an early exit by American troops could disrupt the flow of oil from Iraq and push today’s record-high U.S. gasoline prices even higher.
U.S. withdrawal also could help Al-Qaida establish a base in Iraq for terrorist attacks in the U.S., Petraeus said. “We have an enormous interest in getting this right,” the general added.
Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the American ambassador to Iraq, were spending a second day on Capitol Hill, this time appearing before the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The morning hearing in the Armed Services Committee highlighted the frustration of lawmakers in both political parties with the uncertain course of the war.
Forbes, who has been a supporter of the Bush administration’s Iraq policies, told Petraeus and Crocker that he sometimes gets frustrated with complaints that the war is deepening the U.S. budget deficit. Domestic spending on Social Security and Medicare will be far more costly, he asserted.
But Forbes said constituents pinched by the declining U.S. economy are having trouble understanding why the U.S. needed to spend the more than $600 billion that has gone into the Iraq war to date.
“How do we answer the housewife, the factory worker?” who wants to know why the war effort should matter to them, Forbes asked.
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Oil Prices
Oil Companies play a dominant role in setting oil prices. Whilst it is a normal business practise to pass costs on to the Consumer to preserve profit margins, Companies are now at the crossroads where a separate equation bears investigation.
As Prices increase, people use less and less fuel - from use of cars and boats to taking flights - thus prices increase in order to maintain and extend profitability.
However, if prices were made more accessible to a wider range of people - usage would underwrite a huge increase in Profitability.
A core Marketing principle (no matter the product) lies in demand status.
High Prices make for lower demand, whereas Low Prices make for increased demand.
If prices were low - usage would skyrocket, making for a far more profitable enterprise.
As things are, people are looking for alternate fuel sources like never before. One truism is the Market Devices(the cars, boats and planes) are still there, in place and ready to roll.
All that is needed for an enlarged/enhanced market and higher profitability is a wider affordability.
Further, the first Company to recognise this Principle, will dynamically increase it's profitability - an
And staying there...
.... has bankrupt 'Merca. We lose approx 3 soldiers a day, we spend $5000/second, we hold a $3 Trillion price tag.
"We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah willing, and nothing is too great for Allah," bin Laden said in the transcript.
Maybe Cheney's & Shrub's cronies at KBR can end their Caymen Islands shell corporation address scam & relocate their offices back to the US & pay the social security & unemployment bennies that they have dodged to the tune of $500 million. Every little bit helps.
the new threat
No longer are we threaten with terrorist attacks, but now we are to fear higher gas prices?
HE SAID WHAT?!!!!!!!!
Oh my God, How evil is that
Priceless!
Value of a gallon of gas after quickly leaving Iraq.....$6.00.
Value of a human American Soldier's life......priceless!
Time to bring our Heroes home.....all of them.
Hmm?
Higher gas prices or higher death toll? Spend a little less time driving around or spend a lot less time with your loved ones? Man, these really are difficult questions.