These wars [Iraq, Afghanistan] are about oil, not democracy

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:28 PM EDT

Article Source: torontosun.com

politics, iraq, war, afghanistan, oil, democracy, shell, total, exxon, bt, no-bid-contracts

The ugly truth behind the Iraq and Afghanistan wars finally has emerged.

Four major western oil companies, Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP and Total are about to sign U.S.-brokered no-bid contracts to begin exploiting Iraq's oil fields. Saddam Hussein had kicked these firms out three decades ago when he nationalized Iraq's oil industry. The U.S.-installed Baghdad regime is welcoming them back.

Iraq is getting back the same oil companies that used to exploit it when it was a British colony.

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Groups: Anti-War, Left of Center, Oilvine, Open Minded, Political Analysis, US News and Views , Worldviews
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2.1

{"commentId":2025402,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

Giving out no bid contracts like this really does send a message about US priorities. Even that the first action of the occupying US military was to reverse Saddam's declaration that Iraqi oil would only be sold for Euros and that the ministry of oil was among the most rapidly attained tactical objectives upon taking Baghdad, it's hard to deny that the US has kept its eye firmly on the prize.

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2 votes

#1 - Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":2026010,"authorDomain":"Strath3303"}

Strath3303

Well, to lump Afghanistan in this article is actually accurate, but for a different purpose besides the Iraqi oil contracting. Clinton tried to negociate with the Taliban in 96-97 to try and set up an oil pipeline to reach from the Caspian Sea down through Pakistan. One of the major players there was Hamid Karzai, a rich Pastun and former Unical executive, who`s current job title is Afghani President, or as I like to call him the Mayor of Kabul.

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1 vote

#2 - Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":2026089,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

That pipeline does raise some interesting questions does it not?

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#2.1 - Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":2033541,"authorDomain":"drfade3000"}

Fada

Good information , Strath3303,, very few people are aware of Afghani war for Oil

''War for oil '' used to be said about Iraqi war ,, the truth is that both wars were for oil

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/afgh-n20.shtml

US planned war in Afghanistan long before September 11

http://www.newhumanist.com/oil.html

The Oil Connection: Afghanistan and Caspian Sea oil pipeline routes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1626889.stm

Afghanistan: the pipeline war?

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#2.2 - Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":2034072,"authorDomain":"Strath3303"}

Strath3303

I`d also recommend two additional books on the topic.

Ghost Wars, I can`t remember the author.
The Great War for Civilization by Robert Fisk (an excellent all around resource on recent middle east history with excellent sections on Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

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#2.3 - Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":2036259,"authorDomain":"drfade3000"}

Fada

Ghost Wars for Steve Coll is a great reveletion of CIA role in Afghanistan for 25 years
Thanks for reminding me

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55082-2004Feb19.html

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#2.4 - Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:27 AM EDT

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KILLFILE

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These wars [Iraq, Afghanistan] are about oil, not democracy

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