[The Great Satan]

He ridiculed the idea that "big oil" would benefit from a war in the gulf. Yes, prices would spike, but over the long haul, increasing Iraqi production would lower oil prices and lower their profits.

Of course. This should be obvious to any thinking person.

[Redcloak]

Of course. This should be obvious to any thinking person.

"Thinking" being the key term here; hence the need for Friedman to explain this in painful detail to the NPR audience.