What are the US interests in the Middle East?

[Skip Intro]

Really, as we sit here half a world away, and claim a right to patrol and attack at will, using the vague "interests of the US" as cover, I wonder, what are those "interests?" Have they ever been specified, listed, etc? What are those "interests" that give us such far-reaching, all but limitless power to seek our will on nations oceans away? How did we acquire the right to manifest our will upon other nations? Is it really just about the oil? And could not, by the same token, nations around the world declare an "interest" in what happens here in our neck of the woods, and therefore claim the same "right" to enforce their will upon us?

Are these questions to which the answers are evident to all but me? Or are these questions that for whatever reason just don't get asked?

Just wondering...

[pocoloco]

War profiteering with oil as an added bonus!!

or visa versa?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Without oil, the entire Middle East would be a forgotten backwater.

[entanglement]

2. To secure Oil, Israel and the House of Saud

Not sure which is the most important, though.

[amandabeech]

3. The House of Saud IS oil.

Importance depends on whom you talk to.

[Big Pappa]

4. Oil

Oil and more oil.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Only Iraq's Liberation

Or, O.I.L. for short...

[Strelnikov_]

6. With a side order of LNG n/t

[icnorth]

7. "The vague interests of the U.S." = Oil - first, last and everything in between, end of story.

"Oil is at the heart of the crisis that leads towards a US war against Iraq. For more than a hundred years, major powers have battled to control this enormous source of wealth and strategic power. The major international oil companies, headquartered in the United States and the United Kingdom, are keen to regain control over Iraq’s oil, lost with the nationalization in 1972. Few outside the industry understand just how high the stakes in Iraq really are and how much the history of the world oil industry is a history of power, national rivalry and military force."

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/2002/12heart.htm

[WinkyDink]

8. O.I.L. Yes, other nations could try the same, but then they could kiss their butts adios.

[SanCristobal]

9. It's more then US oil interests at stake, it is global economic stability.

The US gets oil from other places, much of the developed world isn't as fortunate. By virtue of our superpower status, the US has become the de facto regional police man. No other nation has the power to maintain the Mid-East status quo and prevent a major disruption in global oil supplies. Without American intervention the current Mid-East power structure would have likely collapsed under Saddam's pan-Arabist wars.

Under Bush we have taken a very proactive role in the region. Previous shows of force, such as the Gulf War and destruction of the Iranian navy, were significantly less ambitious then the Iraq War and GMEI. They were also far more successful then current policy is turning out. I'm holding out hope the Iraq War will turn out ok, something which will probably get me a White House invite to do a photo-op with Bush as soon as the NSA realizes there is still someone in the country optimistic about the war.

[sweetheart]

10. usury - jesus and the money lenders

They are there to collect the rent from people not obliged to their system of obligations.

Jesus has inspired people to reject the money lenders by overturning their interests,
and the money lenders and slavers plan on crucyfing jesus, hanging him or otherwise
putting him to death with shia assassins.

Its not about about global dominance by interests that believe they have complete
and total control over the public powers of the US and its military complex... no,
its all about jesus.