"We're not in Iraq for the oil, we're not in Iraq to stay"

[bigtree]

Update 3: Rumsfeld Makes Cold War Comparison
By MATT SEDENSKY , 03.02.2006, 04:23 PM

The number of U.S. troops in Iraq should not be so big that they appear to be an occupying force, despite recent spikes in sectarian violence, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Thursday.

Speaking at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library, Rumsfeld said the United States has to "keep avoiding filling every vacuum and if we're around that place with too many people we tend to fill every vacuum. And that's not a healthy thing."

He said America needs to have enough military forces there to support the fledgling government and the development of a new political system, but not so many that it will feed the insurgency and make Iraqis think the U.S. is there only for oil.

"You don't want too many people there that you look like an occupying force, that the insurgents and the terrorists are able to lie to people and say you're only there for their oil, that you're there to occupy the country, that you intend to stay there permanently - all of which is false," said Rumsfeld.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2006/03/02/ap2566666.html

[MadMaddie]

1. Will he shutup already!!!

He makes no sense!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Uh, Rummy, why are we building 14 permanent bases in Iraq?

[MadMaddie]

3. Could you imagine the rebuilding we could do with the

money they are using to build these bases?

[sutz12]

4. So, why the hell are we there?

Inquiring minds want to know.

:dilemma:

[aquart]

5. And the third one is: The check is in the mail.

[arcane1]

6. no, you don't want to look like aan occupying force

you just want to "develop a new political system' at the point of a gun...

:eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes::eyes:

[Disturbed]

7. OIL

"The terrorists want to control the oil. Our way of life will be at risk". George W. Bush (Nov. 2005)

[Minnesota Libra]

8. A look at a map reveals.......

....That Iraq is very important to controlling the entire Middle East as well as other issues. With a permanent US presence in the region it would be easy to control the flow of oil as well as the use of the euro based oil or dollar bassed oil.