how is the war in the middle-east raising petrol prices?

Question

is our presents raising the prices or is it greed?

Answer 1

It's indirect, through 'uncertainty.' While there's virtually always some war or instability in the middle east, since 9/11 the American invovlement has raised the stakes. Large scale disruptions of supply seem a more meaningful risk, so those who buy oil want to hold more reserves against a disruption, and speculators see the possiblity of huge price increases. Both bid up futures contracts and the price of oil rises, even though suply may not have actually fallen nor demand increased much more than expected.

It's a sort of 'fear premium.'

Of course, demand /has/ been increasing a great deal, that's also responsible for much of the higher prices.

Answer 2

something else to consider. It's not the war so much as unrest in the region. Some of which is intentionally caused by Russia to keep their oil profits high.

Answer 3

the region has become destabilized thanks to the quagmire...this makes for an "uncertain" market to say the very least (like no one saw it coming)...and thus we have the ever increasing and never questioned rise in oil prices...and I'll answer your last question with a question "where's the money?"

Answer 4

greed