Bush: It's the Oil Stupid... But is it?

[neoblues]

Everybody pretty much knows Bush is finally saying the Oil is the reason not to leave IRAQ (which pretty much shows that that's what the objective was all along)--for fear of Oil Market "Terrorism" and threats of price increases. Still, I wonder about the validity of his argument; I think it's more likely he's worried about his (and his base's) future oil profits (and their slipping control over the market).

Bush Says U.S. Pullout Would Let Iraq Radicals Use Oil as a Weapon

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 5, 2006

GREELEY, Colo., Nov. 4 -- During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, President Bush and his aides sternly dismissed suggestions that the war was all about oil. "Nonsense," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld declared. "This is not about that," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Now, more than 3 1/2 years later, someone else is asserting that the war is about oil -- President Bush.

...

"You can imagine a world in which these extremists and radicals got control of energy resources," he said at a rally here Saturday for Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.). "And then you can imagine them saying, 'We're going to pull a bunch of oil off the market to run your price of oil up unless you do the following. And the following would be along the lines of, well, 'Retreat and let us continue to expand our dark vision.' "

...

First, just how much of the world's oil is now, currently, coming from IRAQ? With the invasion and subsequent 'terrorist'/'insurgent'/'sectarian' efforts to repeatedly destroy/sabotage and prevent rebuilding of pipelines and production facilities, I wonder how much oil production IRAQ has successfully delivered. It deosn't seem likely it's been a major source.

Of course, it certainly has enormous potential--but that isn't the claimed concern. Bush just said they (those "Islamic Fundamentalists" who hate America**) might threaten to reduce production to hike the price. That's something that's currently far beyond their capability--even if they were in control right now.

Well into the future, if they can manage to keep their nation peaceful enough, then they might become a significant source--and the world may adjust to having that source, becoming 'dependent' upon it; then those 'terrorists' might have the power to threaten the world (mostly us probably) with a price hike. However, if we don't become more dependent on imported oil, world production should provide sufficient amounts for our needs without IRAQI oil.

Indeed, one of their most powerful threats might be the opposite of what Bush has flaoted... They might instead actually flood the market with cheap oil--thus catastrophically reducing/damaging Western Oil Corporation's profits. Now that's something I can see the Bush Administration going to war to prevent.


**Who it seems we've pretty much given good cause to hate us; owing to the enormous number of deaths, injuries, suffering, violence, lawlessness and destruction allowed to happen in their country as well as their resentment of our occupation. Indeed, they may well blame us (rightly and wrongly) and may hold a long-standing grudge against us (as their memories for such harm is long).

[lligrd]

1. Of Course It Is Their Future They Are Worried About

We have had the means to produce other sources of energy for years. Their crowd has purposely not funded and downright sabotaged any research and development that would lead to severing our need for oil. They may have just gone too far this time. If any good can come from this debacle, our freedom from oil dependence (along with the resulting reduction of greenhouse gasses) will be it.

[babylonsister]

2. Think Vietnam. That country is doing just fine, despite US. nt

[Wizard777]

3. 2 Trillion dollars buys a lot of gas. Even at 10.00 per gallon. n/t