As I understand it, the USD's strength is a function of the petrodollar. The petrodollar is supposedly a function of the U.S. military power. IIRC a old PBS doc

As I understand it, the USD's strength is a function of the petrodollar. The petrodollar is supposedly a function of the U.S. military power. IIRC a old PBS doc about Saudi Arabia explained that the Saudi's were made and offer that [they] couldn't refuse to 1) price in and accept USD; and 2) supply @ at price levels deemed reasonable by the U.S. Obviously, they've lost some ability to control price w/the advent of the technology and the futures exchanges, but still...