Rather than recognise their own role in creating the food-price spike, many Western politicians (notably President George Bush) have pointed to rising affluence in emerging economies.

ECONOMIST: The real lesson from volatile commodity prices

In fairness, other U.S. officials - notably, some from the George W. Bush administration - have wondered about whether, for example, there were more terrorists coming out of the pipeline than were being killed.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: They're Baaack