OPEC President and Algerian Oil Minister Chakib Khelilpredicted that the price of oil will climb to $170 a barrel before the end of the year, citing the dollar’s decline and political conflicts.  WTF are “political conflicts.” Maybe we should be making more of a “political conflict” with Algeria.  I mean we’ve done so well with that foreign policy in Iraq why not?

“Oil prices are expected to reach $170 as demand for fuel is growing in the U.S. during the summer period and the dollar continues to weaken against the euro,” Khelil said today in a telephone interview. The leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries also serves as Algeria’s oil minister.”

Maybe we should look at alternatives to fuel rather than $2.99 gas guarantee or pumping new oil reserves off our coasts.  I’m all for exploring and mining new oil in a environmentally conscious manner but let’s say we start drilling off our coasts tomorrow it will take years before we see even a negligible difference in price at the pump.

I mean how cool does this look?