The invasion of Iraq lead to great turmoil in a region that produces about 29% of the world's oil
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/nonopec.htmlhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/nonopec.htmland very little of the oil used in the United States. This turmoil has been used to escalate price per barrel. This is the number that is continually force fed to the average news listener. So the price at the pump necessarily has to go up.
This invasion of Iraq was an intermediate phase by an unelected American administration that actually met with oil executives to divvy up the Iraqi oil fields under the premise of developing a new energy plan.
Turmoil in the middle east sounds to the average news listener like it would be very troubling especially for people in the region when in fact it is merely something that will tie up interest away from hating/attacking Israel. As a big bonus the remaining 50 years of oil supply will see massive windfall profits for everyone in the oil industry including the domestic interests namely "Texas oil men" (the ones Eisenhower warned you about).
Should the newly elected fundamentalists turn their attention away from the problems and headaches of governing and actually try to attack Israel years of taxpayer investment in the US military, the Israeli Defense Fund, the ROYAL Saudi Air Force will provide cover.
Of course the more turmoil there is the more the price per barrel goes up and the more money everyone makes.
Exxon Mobil reported profits of $36 Billion last year, just as planned.
The probe has determined that everything is working just as planned.