Manipulation, I THINK, actually didn't involve a huge amount of money (huge for me, but not for the guys who did it.) I think early on, the manipulators used their investment like a guy that uses a snowball to start an avalanche. Once it got rolling, it took on it's own life. I don't think there's much manipulative money going on right now, as I think people are out of the market based more on fear of depressed demand, rather than trying to keep the price artificially low.
Gotcha, looks like we may be near a market bottom.