The Middle East takes great pride in its oil production, and sometimes dictators overstep boundaries in order to claim that oil for themselves, as Saddam Hussein of Iraq attempted to do to Kuwait in 1991.
Kuwait is a particularly extreme example of cheap oil for all within the borders of Kuwait. This small nation just next to the Arabian Peninsula has massive reserves of oil beneath its sands. Oil merchants could potentially make great profits from selling gasoline at market prices in the Middle East and Kuwait, but the overwhelming attitude of oil is that it should be extremely cheap and plentiful always, so oil merchants do not even attempt to exploit the local population with higher gas prices.
When Iraq attempted to invade Kuwait, a tiny neighbor by comparison, it was seen as vital to American interests to maintain a strong bond with Kuwait, as Saddam Hussein had been far more volatile...
In the past. That is why the entire world condemned Iraq for its actions, and a large unified army action defeated Saddam Hussein's massive tank columns in just a few weeks. Kuwait's pride in its oil was maintained, and they made long lasting and secure relations with the United States for protecting its borders. In the year 2011, Kuwait is resting on solid ground in the region, and is a wealthy and prosperous nation. There is simply no need to charge market prices for gasoline as the sacred oil which has come to define Kuwait has been core to the nations success, and has been so plentiful to the populace for so long that it would be difficult to even change the prices of gasoline for locals.
The Arab Spring and Middle East Unrest. (2011). Brookings Institution. Retrieved October 1, .
Global prices around the world. (2011). CNN. Retrieved October 1, .
