> OTOH, as CBS MarketWatch notes today: "Crude futures soared above $27 a
> barrel Monday on fears of a possible disruption in Middle East oil exports
> following heavy violence between the Israelis and Palestinians over the
> weekend. Crude for May delivery rose as high as $27.07 a barrel before
> closing at $26.88, up 57 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The
> contract had been trading as low at $19.85 a barrel just two months ago on
> Feb. 7."
Please. Markets fluctuate. It has never been a goal of US foreign policy to be able to control the spot market price of a barrel of oil on a day-to-day basis.
Seth