My textbooks and a scouring of Google and these forums all mention the powerful oxidizing potential of nitric acid. However, none (that I can find) make mention as to why it is such a powerful oxidizer.
Now, I know HCl is not considered an oxidizer, and since both of these acids are monoprotic, it tells me that the oxidizing "part" in the nitrate anion. Does it have to do with the ease with which nitrate compounds dissolve in water?