The first step of the war, any war, is financial. I don't know, but I think that Syria knows that the east must depart from the west like heaven from hell. This is Syria's first step :

TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2006
Syria plans to end peg of its pound to U.S. dollar
By Dania Saadi (Bloomberg News)
Syria, accused by the United States of supporting terrorism, plans to end its currency peg to the dollar by December to reflect closer trade ties with Europe.

The 'peg' is an exchange rate and allows the country, in this case Syria, to stock the dollar. Syria is taking a further step than China whick has already stopped its peg to the dollar. All of the residents of these countries that use the dollar will find that they cannot buy anything because the dollar will be worth nothing.

Syria markets all of its crude oil, including that produced by foreign companies, solely through state marketing company Sytrol. Prices for Syrian Light and Suwaidiyah blends are tied to the price of dated Brent and are adjusted monthly. At present, Sytrol has term contracts with more than 20 companies, including Total, Veba, Bay Oil, Conoco, Chevron, Repsol, British Petroleum, Shell, and Marc Rich.

Conoco, Chevron, and Shell are oil companies in the U.S.

That is why the price of gas is going thru the roof. The price of gas after this year will be probably close to $5.00 a gallon.