Only Iraqis Get Cheap Gas Despite Forecast

[True_Blue]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - One of the prewar forecasts was that by invading Iraq, the world would profit from stable exports of Iraq's oil. And that would translate into cheap gas for American drivers. Now, with U.S. gasoline averaging $2.05 per gallon - about 50 cents more than the pre-invasion price - that logic has been flipped on its head.

Instead, Iraqis seem to be the only people getting cheap gas as a result of the invasion. They pay just five cents for a gallon - thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer subsidies.

Since Iraq has little capacity to refine its own gasoline, the U.S. government pays about $1.50 a gallon to purchase fuel in neighboring countries and deliver it to Iraqi filling stations. A three-month supply costs American taxpayers more than $500 million, not including the cost of military escorts.

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http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/8845085.htm

[HereSince1628]

1. What was the pre-war price of gas in Iraq?

The article says it was cheap.

I guess if we conducted a war of choice and broke their gasoline system, then we have a responsibility to help them until it is fixed.

It sucks, yes it does. But Bush & CO are still hiding the Iraq war costs like these outside the budget and calling it "war on terror."

The Iraqis must be saying "Bring it on--the subsidies that is."

Add one to the tally of ironies of how we would liberate Iraq and make it a free market economy.