You answer your own question. Also, our presence in Iraq is felt in the whole Middle East, not just in Iraq.
You would think after the war gas would be down to 75. cents a gallon. FOX just reported gas is going up again......
What an amazing canard! Gas prices depend on a whole host of factors. Not the least of which is refining capacity and all the special formulations required by a number of states. We in the U.S. haven't built a new refinery in 30 years or so, and actually are importing finished products to keep up with demand. Also, Iraq just started pumping oil recently, so I wouldn't expect increased supply to reduce prices just yet.