[nhfirefighter13]

My Environmental Science professor is an ex-Navy EOD/Diver of 35 years just recently moved up to NH from the DC area. I got to talking to him about gas prices (he brought it up) and he said that prices have gone up so much because where we (the US) were once guarding the oil plants and convoys our troops have been pulled off of that duty to take care of trouble spots. This has forced the oil companies to provide (and pay for) private security details. He says he knows a bunch of guys over there that are getting $3000 per day to play doberman.

He also mentioned that Bush is cutting into the national oil reserve to lower prices...in order to help his campaign, of course...which is the same thing Clinton did.

Just thought I'd share.

[spillover]

We have been filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserves since 2001 . The administration slowed the fill in June significantly, but the plan is to ramp it back up. Notice the April fill delivery schedule and remember how much you were paying for gas.

Strategic Petroleum Reserves

Lots of political hay could be made either way. I defer on this one.

EDIT: The last time we released oil from the Strategic Reserve was during the '90-'91 Gulf War. The Congress resolved to sell the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve in 1996 and completed the transaction in '98