Like I said...
The gas numbers are generalizations, since the event has not yet happened. the US exodus from Iraq, and the likelihood of our current oil contracts disappearing with the last of our troops, would put the US price of gas anywhere from $6.00 to $15.00 gallon. It doesn't matter how short you are of US consumption at a certain point - even a few barrels a day would impact prices in such a manner.
Regardless of the exact figure, the damage would be about the same - a full blown depression.
Less 3 percent of our consumption or 10 percent - the gas price would skyrocket. We keep pressing our "allies" and OPEC for increased production but they enjoy the catbird seat of high prices that laying games with output creates. So even though, in a pinch we obviously would get the 3 percent elsewhere, prices would skyrocket accordingly. 6.00 a gallon at this point would be just as bad as 10.00 - because many folks simply could not afford gas at that point and our economic productivity, facilitated by movement is impaired. 3.45 a gallon is already restricting growth and decreasing wealth generation.
So, my point still stands (which you seem to concede in your PS, by affirming your desire not to see us leave Iraq;-) that we must remain in Iraq to preserve our economy from further disaster.
Oh and you want to know why it's been so quiet in Iraq...like I have been saying about the insurgency all along...some French folks wanted a big slice of cash and we have finalizing giving it to them to bring about relative peace.
French mercenarial companies like TOTAL can thank Sarkozy for their "good fortune" and conveniently it came before elections so that Iraq stays out of the French owned media news as much as possible. They win. Their "Iraq is a quagmire" PR campaign suceeeded. For probably less than a million per year of "insurgency" investment as well as their free media outlet...they win the jackpot.
Iraq is ALL about money...the players in Iraq are just pawns of bigger interests.