From: "Gary Britt" 

If the oil companies could set the price of gas anywhere they wanted
without relation to market forces gas prices in this country would be $3 to
$5 per gallon all year, every year.

When the spot price of oil goes up, it affects all prices because the
barrel of oil they use up today that purchased at yesterday's prices has to
be REPLACED at TOMORROW'S prices.  If TODAY'S sales don't generate enough
cash to buy oil at TOMORROW'S prices then the company won't be able to buy
replacement oil and will go out of business.  That's how commodity prices
work in the real world as opposed to the fantasy world of non-rational
economic thought that you seem to be following.

Gary

"Geo"  wrote in message
news:439eaf31$3{at}w3.nls.net...
> From the space photos it looked like 1991 Baghdad. Had to be a huge fire.
>
> Oh, in response the US oil companies upped the price of gas by $0.20.. but
> Gary will tell us that's not profiteering, it was undoubtedly done out of
> respect.
>
> Geo.
>
> "Phil Payne" 
wrote in message
> news:439e8a37$2{at}w3.nls.net...
> > THat's the current theory.  There's an eyewitness report from a guy who
> saw
> > serious vapour and ran like ****.
>
>
>

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