Iraq and the price of gas

Next time you fill your gas tank and watch the meter run your tab up beyond the point of despair, think of Iraq and the Bushites. Their plan called for paying to rebuild the country after they trashed it by selling its oil. Well, we all know how the plans of those mice gang aft a-gley.

Iraq, despite having the third highest proven oil reserves in the world, is now actually importing refined products. From a peak production of 3.5 million barrels a day in 1990, Iraq's production fell to 1.4 million in 2005. At a time when they could be relieving world supplies they are struggling to meet their own needs. Insurgent attacks and sabotage, corruption, gross mismanagement, theft of oil, government confusion -- all part of the chaos visited upon the country by the Americans and their allies -- have brought the industry to its knees.

Inasmuch as high gas prices contribute to conservation, they are a good thing. It just seems a little unfair to have one people bear so much of the burden.