"It's all about the oil"

Brian in Mesa · March 21st, 2003, 07:31 AM

How many times have the anti-war, or anti-Bush/Cheney people tried to make this whole conflict about oil?

Yesterday, I saw oil market expert Rob Sobhani on tv talking about the ramifications of freeing Iraq. He said that a liberated Iraq would mean lower oil prices all around the world.

Heck, we're involved in the war right now and the price of a barrel of oil just dropped about a dollar already.

Next smokescreen please...

SECTION 11 · March 21st, 2003, 07:32 AM

Whoever claims this argument should sue their school district for robbing them of their education. This is such BS.

schutd · March 21st, 2003, 07:48 AM

If you guys had to rank in order of importance, the benefits of this war, what would they be? Oil better be in top three or youre fooling yourselves.

Im not agreeing with the simpleton protest crap of "No Blood for Oil" or any of that, but seriously, there s HUGE amount of money to be made by US big business when we take over Iraq. You dont hink that plays a part in this?

SECTION 11 · March 21st, 2003, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by schutd
there s HUGE amount of money to be made by US big business when we take over Iraq

How exactly?

schutd · March 21st, 2003, 07:57 AM

I cant really find the articles right now, they used to be on CNN.com, but the contracts to go in and help rebuild the oilfields that have fallen into disrepair are expected to be in the 10s of billions of dollars. With US control of Iraq, we instantly become less dependant on our national reserves, the market gets more saturated, the price comes down, thats all a benefit to us, Im sure there are others.

SECTION 11 · March 21st, 2003, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by schutd
the contracts to go in and help rebuild the oilfields that have fallen into disrepair are expected to be in the 10s of billions of dollars

Paid by whom exactly? Precedent points to the US Gov paying for it. That circular transaction is not the economic windfall that it would appear to be, no?

schutd · March 21st, 2003, 08:24 AM

Oil sales will pay for the majority of it.

AZCB34 · March 21st, 2003, 08:33 AM

Oil is an issue but not the main issue. schutd is right that if people don't count oil near the top, they are fooling themselves...but it isn't all this is about.The people who only state this as the reason for invading Iraq are completely blind.

Brian, I would argue that lowering oil prices by going into Iraq is true and would add lower oil prices means happy worldwide consumers...especially Amwerican consumers. Therefore the oil thing is real because if I understand how the post war deal will work, the US and Britain will have a very large say in the use of that oil towards rebuilding Iraq and whatever else they use it for. Again, though, oil isn't even the main issue here...maybe not even top 3 but it would be top 5 for sure.

I also will add that maybe I am not sure why these oil protesters state all this since the lower [prices benefits them when they drive their Excursions to anti-war protests.

Coyote Tony · March 21st, 2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by schutd
there s HUGE amount of money to be made by US big business when we take over Iraq.

And the rest of the coalition will allow the US to exploit Iraq afterwards? Please. Is oil a factor? Yes. Is it the main factor? No.

Oil is number 3,598 ... or something like that ... it comes right after every person's name who was murdered on 9/11 because of terrorists.

mattyboy · March 21st, 2003, 05:04 PM

i would like you to show the exact correlation between sadam hussein and osama bin laden.

JJ Slim · March 21st, 2003, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattyboy
i would like you to show the exact correlation between sadam hussein and osama bin laden.

Tony said nothing about Bin Laden. He was talking about the people who were "murdered on 9/11 because of terrorists". Funny how you correlate that with Bin Laden. What proof do you have that there is a link between the terrorists of 9/11 and Bin Laden? The same proof that links Bin Laden to the Iraqi government. That's what proof and there's the correlation.

I can't believe I just defended Tony and agree with him. Somebody shoot me now!

mattyboy · March 21st, 2003, 06:22 PM

so saddam was more influential in the 9/11 attacks than osama?

Coyote Tony · March 21st, 2003, 06:32 PM

The war is against terrorism. 9/11 was not the only terrorist attack.]

Iraq, because of Saddam welcomes and allows terrorists to train on their soil. Saddam has produced weapons of mass destruction and has not provided evidence of their destruction.

That's the very simple connection between Saddam, Iraq, 9/11 and terrorism.

Bob Chebat · March 21st, 2003, 08:41 PM

This war IS NOT against terrorism. I mean, they are calling this whole thing, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Now granted, the US feels that there are ties between Iraq and Al Qaida, but this war is about the disarming of Saddam and liberating the Iraqi people. At least that is what President Bush has been saying for the last week or so.

Terrorism is a target, but not THE reason for the war. The reason for the war in Afghanistan was terrorism. The war is also about oil, make no mistake about it. Why else would they be burning oil fields? Because right now it is their only real weapon.

Brian in Mesa · March 21st, 2003, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Chebat
This war IS NOT against terrorism. I mean, they are calling this whole thing, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Now granted, the US feels that there are ties between Iraq and Al Qaida, but this war is about the disarming of Saddam and liberating the Iraqi people. At least that is what President Bush has been saying for the last week or so.

Terrorism is a target, but not THE reason for the war. The reason for the war in Afghanistan was terrorism. The war is also about oil, make no mistake about it. Why else would they be burning oil fields? Because right now it is their only real weapon.

The war is against terrorism.

Saddam Hussein is a dictator and a terrorist. He's one of the world's worst terrorists. He has persecuted, tortured and killed many of his own people. He has amassed illegal weapons of mass destruction and refused to cooperate with UN resolutions for more than 12 years. The fear is that he will either use these weapons or sell them...to terrorists. He is also known for harboring terrorists, funding them and/or allowing them to train in Iraq. (Post 9/11 Bush said we will treat all nations who harbor terrorists as an enemy to freedom).

The objective as described of freeing the Iraqi people is a direct benefit from removing the regime of Saddam Hussein. The oil of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq if they are freed. In one last desperate act, Saddam would rather have the oil burn than see a free nation of Iraqi people inherit it. He's not thumbing his nose at the USA by burning the oil, he's just doing more damage to the people in his country.