Oil and the Empire

[darkbeaver]

[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The scramble for control of “black gold”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Oil and the empire[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]March 30, 2007 | Pages 8 and 9[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]ALAN MAASS explains how the battles over control of oil remain a central factor in the military and economic conflicts of today’s world.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]THE OIL men of the Bush administration are trying to set up one of the biggest swindles in history--the great Iraq oil robbery.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The cabinet of the new Iraqi government--under pressure from the U.S. occupiers who put them in power--approved a law that would undo Iraq’s nationalized system and give Western oil giants unparalleled access to the country’s vast reserves.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The oil companies would be guaranteed super-profits--on a scale unknown anywhere else in the Middle East--for a period of 20 to 35 years from oil pumped out of two-thirds or more of Iraq’s oilfields. Meanwhile, Iraqis would continue to endure poverty and the devastation of war while sitting atop what is estimated to be the third-largest supply of the world’s most sought-after resource.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The great Iraq oil robbery isn’t a done deal. Even if the law is finalized by May as expected, the major oil companies say they won’t have anything to do with production in Iraq until “security” is established--and that would mean a success for the occupiers and their Iraqi puppets that the U.S. hasn’t been able to achieve over the past four years since the invasion.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Still, the law underlines the importance of the scramble for oil to the U.S. empire--no matter how much George Bush and his administration deny it with claims about spreading “democracy” and making the world safe from terrorism.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The U.S. government’s thirst for oil isn’t only about profits--and still less about securing supplies of a commodity that ordinary Americans depend on--but is also about power. In a world in which the economic and military might of nations depends significantly on access to oil, more control for the U.S. means less control for its rivals.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]These dual calculations--securing access for its own needs and controlling the access of others--have been central to the history of oil and the U.S. empire, from the end of the 19th century, to the start of the 21st.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]DURING THE opening months of the Bush administration in 2001, Dick Cheney chaired a task force to set a new course for U.S. energy policy.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Ch[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]http://www.socialistworker.org/2007-1/625/625_08_oilempire.shtml

 

[gopher]

Some people might find your source to be a bit biased because it is left wing. But its news is no different from that if the ultra right wing PNAC:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Project_for_the_New_American_Century

Therefore, no one need find your source objectionable.

 

[RomSpaceKnight]

If they gave over half what they are spending in Iraq, our gov could be talked into opening up the taps wide open. Our debt would be paid off in no time.

Maybe we are on the list. Once they've pillaged further from home.

 

[EagleSmack]

If they gave over half what they are spending in Iraq, our gov could be talked into opening up the taps wide open. Our debt would be paid off in no time.

Maybe we are on the list. Once they've pillaged further from home.

Oooooo... I feel another US Invasion of Canada thread coming!

 

[eh1eh]

Oooooo... I feel another US Invasion of Canada thread coming!

Unessessary, Why would the USA invade the 51st state? Some say that's Mexico, nope, not till they get oil. For now USA already owns Canada through trade.:smile:

 

[EagleSmack]

Unessessary, Why would the USA invade the 51st state? Some say that's Mexico, nope, not till they get oil. For now USA already owns Canada through trade.:smile:

Nah... thats no fun. I want to hear about the secret build ups of US Forces on the Canadien border. secret US War Plans, UAV over flights, how Canada will shut off the pipeline and produce MASS QUANTITIES OF FRIGATES like they did in WWII.

Don't be a thread killer. ;-)

 

[hunboldt]

Nah... thats no fun. I want to hear about the secret build ups of US Forces on the Canadien border. secret US War Plans, UAV over flights, how Canada will shut off the pipeline and produce MASS QUANTITIES OF FRIGATES like they did in WWII.

Don't be a thread killer. ;-)

Being Harpo-oned wasn't enough?

 

[Palindrome]

But they do still hate our freedoms, right?

 

[petros]

GE and the rest of NG crew are at war with oil.

 

[Cliffy]

GE and the rest of NG crew are at war with oil.

Do they control the US military like oil does?

 

[petros]

Find a USAF jet without a GE engine.

GE Aviation Selected for United States Air Force Adaptive Engine Technology Development Program Negotiations | Business Wire

GE is only the second largest company in the world. How could they possibly benefit from controlling the "green movement"?

 

[Cliffy]

Find a USAF jet without a GE engine.

GE Aviation Selected for United States Air Force Adaptive Engine Technology Development Program Negotiations | Business Wire

GE is only the second largest company in the world. How could they possibly benefit from controlling the "green movement"?

If GE builds all the jet engines, why would they be at war with oil? Jets don't run on electric engines and never will.

I can see how they would like to control the "green movement" but what does that have to do with climate change? They are one of the biggest "human" factors in the equation. Sometimes I think you don't give people as much credit as they deserve. Sure, there are a lot of sheeple who like to have their opinions handed to them, but there are many who see through the BS.

 

[petros]

Is oil flowing like it used to from Iraq?

How necessary are jet engines for drones and airplanes to drop bombs?

A jet engine is also called a turbine and turbines do indeed burn NG and they do it exceptionally well.

Coal is evil as you've been told by GE's "Green Team" but apparently NG turbine power stations are?

Who is the leader in Nuclear power generation?

Who makes the guts for wind power turbines and hydro turbines that make "Green" electricity?

Who supplies the components to keep the power grid hopping?

Hemp farmers?

 

[Cliffy]

Is oil flowing like it used to from Iraq?

How necessary are jet engines for drones and airplanes to drop bombs?

A jet engine is also called a turbine and turbines do indeed burn NG and they do it exceptionally well.

Coal is evil as you've been told by GE's "Green Team" but apparently NG turbine power stations are?

Who is the leader in Nuclear power generation?

Who makes the guts for wind power turbines and hydro turbines that make "Green" electricity?

Who supplies the components to keep the power grid hopping?

Hemp farmers?

I know a lot of people who are praying for that massive sun flare to wipe out the power grid and render all computer components useless. Then we would see an end to this stupid power struggle and control by corporations. As for the massive die off, those praying don't care; too many sheeple around anyway.

 

[petros]

It can't be faked with a nuke? It's called a Rainbow Bomb. Does GE make nukes and rockets to get one to space?

How much would they make off a solar flare?