So, it was never about the oil ...

[ThomWV]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/14-6

"US Companies Join Race on Iraqi Oil Bonanza
by Timothy Williams
BAGHDAD - A wave of American companies have been arriving in Iraq in recent months to pursue what is expected to be a multibillion-dollar bonanza of projects to revive the country's stagnant petroleum industry, as Iraq seeks to establish itself as a rival to Saudi Arabia as the world's top oil producer.

Iraqi workers in an oil field in Amara. Many American companies are pursuing contracts worth billions of dollars to rebuild and expand Iraq's oil industry. Since the 2003 American-led invasion, nearly all of the biggest reconstruction projects in Iraq have been controlled by the United States. But many rebuilding contracts are expected to be awarded as soon as this month for drilling hundreds of new wells, repairing thousands of miles of pipeline and building several giant floating oil terminals in the Persian Gulf, and possibly a new port.

The contracts will be administered either directly by the Iraqi government or as part of Baghdad's oversight of international oil companies that have signed agreements during the past few months to develop the country's most promising oil fields."

[bigtree]

1. I think the first Gulf bombings

. . . and W's invasion and occupation both served the Bush and Cheney's Saudi Arabian friends' economic interests in suppressing Iraq's oil market and preventing Saddam from obtaining a port in Kuwait. It's always about oil . . . that doesn't necessarily mean its about American oil companies gaining advantage.

[mmonk]

2. It was completely about the oil reserves.

Murder for profit.

[indepat]

9. And regional hegemony to control/have access to these oil/gas reserves

and lastly to: expand a burgeoning empire? :P

[nykym]

3. I would like to see the Iraqi's

Make deals with the oil companies but say in addition you will build a school, hospital, community center etc. and let the Iraqi's decide where it should be. They need to rebuild the war ravaged centers and what better way than to have those who seek profits to have to pay a little more for them. Just a thought. And maybe rather than poo pooing the idea, give some insight into how it can be accomplished.

[timeforpeace]

4. It wasn't but if they ever take a drop of oil out, we can say it was.

[Wilms]

5. Actually, every drop left in serves the purpose of propping up the price of a barrel.

So it was about oil...keeping it in the ground until they were good and ready for it.

[taterguy]

10. So what was it about?

[earth mom]

6. It was about the oil AND about war profiteering.

:grr:

[begin_within]

7. If there was no oil there, none of this would have happened,

including Bush 1's war as well.

[Javaman]

8. "Now watch this shot!". nt