posted on March 22, 2003 05:07:17 PM newU.S. and British troops moved successfully in the war's opening days to control key parts of Iraq's southern oil fields.
Yes they did Helen. And with good reasons. Saddams past of setting them on fire, wasting the source of keeping the country running, people fed...you know all those things you're always so concerned about. Burning oil fields pollute the environment, cause illness/health problems for the people there INCLUDING OUR TROOPS. The oil fields he set on fire before polluted the environment for over 8 months. The US military trying to prevent that from happening again is well accepted and understood by thinking people.
Just as importantly, they secured crucial oil gathering points and the major export terminals on the Persian Gulf. Iraq's northern fields also appeared to have avoided damage. It would have been pretty stupid for them not to have been concerned with protecting the major source of exports that support the Iraqi people. And will even more so once this mission is accomplished.
They worried that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might order Iraq's wells set ablaze as he did Kuwait's wells toward the end of the Gulf War a dozen years ago. There are over 1600 oil wells in Iraq. Saddam has managed to set at least 7 of those wells on fire even with our best efforts to prevent it from happening.
How foolish your statements are. Sounds like you think we should just let Saddam and his military set them all on fire.
posted on March 22, 2003 05:58:54 PM new
I agree that if any administration went to war with Iraq under the present circumstances that their motive would be suspect.
But the oil motive is not a foolish idea.
The possibility was even analyzed by the Council on Foreign Relations and the James A. Baker Institute at Rice University. Their finding was that a heavy hand by America in getting control would cause a public relations backlash.
posted on March 22, 2003 06:02:37 PM new
So, in order to merit the study, it must be a serious concern...how the oil distribution will be handled without drawing undue attention.
posted on March 22, 2003 06:11:47 PM new
Helen, so where is a Free Iraq supposed to come up with the funding to start anew?
Their oil... not ours but theirs... if Saddam destroys the oild fields there will be no money for the Iraqis unless your favorite organization is going to fork over the money... UN
That I seriously doubt and also people are complaining how are we financing the war... well if we get some oil in return... that is not a bad deal, but to keep claiming our only reason for being there is oil, is not only ignorant but misguided as well.
posted on March 22, 2003 06:30:57 PM new
I agree twelvepole that it's not the only reason that bush is at war but it's one reason. Power and position in the mid-east is the major reason for this war.
Liberation of the Iraqi people will be a good result for awhile but this is not motivating George Bush. He uses the idea as propaganda for the American people.
posted on March 22, 2003 07:51:58 PM new
Prove it to me Helen...
I think he is looking after the American people, like I said before in another thread, he could be receiving human intell and he sure as hell can't be telling "us" what it is or "they" would know someone actually did talk...
Believe it or not Helen, you and others like you are not entitled to every little bit of information that comes across his desk...
As a matter of fact neither am I, but at least I am intelligent enough to understand that.
posted on March 22, 2003 09:35:53 PM new
"Meet the new boss...same as the old boss" The Who
Through the miracle of standard accepted bookkeeping practices as developed by upstanding US corporate raiders the Iraqi people will receive their fair share of all profits from the sale of their oil. Unfortunately after expenses and various operating costs, write offs, deprecations etc.. there will be no profits. Vice President Cheney's commissions on the other hand (part of the golden parachute deal from the Haliburton separation) in various SEC filings over the past few days have been estimated in excess of $1,000,000.00, chump change to him I'm sure.
[ edited by davebraun on Mar 22, 2003 09:37 PM ]
posted on March 22, 2003 09:46:44 PM new
Iraqi oil will pay for the war and the rebuilding of Iraq. Oil that otherwise would be paying for more presidential palaces.
Plus, the lower price of oil will boost the US economy.
posted on March 23, 2003 04:47:42 AM new
I don't for a moment think all protesters are anti-American.
There's a handful that will manipulate a large group, which is easy to do. It's easy to get a mob to do anything. Most of these protesters are near fanatical in their beliefs. In a crowd someone yells that the cops are beating one of the protesters and all hell breaks out. Someone starts breaking windows and the mob follows.
I too believe the truly honest antiwar protesters are being used by communist and socialist groups.
For whomever said communism was dead because USSR had fallen, Communism and Socialism are not countries they are idealism's. Ideals of a false utopia forced down the throats of naive people. Especially the pseudo Intellectuals.
I hear people talkin' bad,
About the way we have to live here in this country,
Harpin' on the wars we fight,
An' gripin' 'bout the way things oughta be.
An' I don't mind 'em switchin' sides,
An' standin' up for things they believe in.
When they're runnin' down my country, man,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.
If you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
I read about some squirrely guy,
Who claims, he just don't believe in fightin'.
An' I wonder just how long,
The rest of us can count on bein' free.
They love our milk an' honey,
But they preach about some other way of livin'.
When they're runnin' down my country, hoss,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.
If you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.
If you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
posted on March 23, 2003 08:37:34 AM new
::For whomever said communism was dead because USSR had fallen, Communism and Socialism are not countries they are idealism's. Ideals of a false utopia forced down the throats of naive people. Especially the pseudo Intellectuals. ::
Colin - I said that Commuism was dead but I do not credit its death to the break-up of the USSR. I said it because it has proven itself to be a drastically flawed concept. It has ben clearly shown that that true communism cannot be acheived because the is no way to squash the human ego. All one needs to do is look at the few countires still claiming to practice it to see the reality.
As far as the niave that may still buy into the promises, I go back to my original (admitted tongue in cheek) statement. Glam Rock still has a few followers too, but neither will be making a comeback.
That sign was unbelievable! I hate the message, but signs like that will do unbelievable damage to the leftist anti-war crowd. It's incredible how stupid they are. You can tell the mentality of this group by just looking at them.
The posts on that site which are below the pictures are also insight-giving. There is a lot of hate in this group. I do believe most of them had poor childhoods.
There's a great "war poster" right above the picture I'm hopefully posting here or maybe a link to it. It's a little vulgar so I don't know if I can post it on AW or not, but it represents my sentiments exactly. The picture I'm attempting to post is one of Iraqi kids hugging a U.S. soldier after being liberated.
Wow, this Iraqi liberation is so reminiscent
of the liberation of France after WWII. What a payback we're receiving from them. The French language and culture is in decline and they can't stand it.
posted on March 24, 2003 04:01:25 PM new
Just on the News tonight- Iraqi military ambushed our Marines, and the Iraqis soldiers were in civilian clothes, and were hiding in a hospital. This on top of the wave the white flag then attack scenarios.
I for one from this point on will not hold any American soldier responsible for Iraqi civilian deaths. Saddam Hussein and their military leadership are fully to blame for any Iraqi civilian deaths by American soldiers.
posted on March 24, 2003 04:11:25 PM new
Yes communism is a failure but unfortunatly it is very much alive and kicking. aside from the bearded bastard and other known countries and organizations, all we have to do is look south. the FARC of colombia, Hugo Chavez of venezuela, and maybe?? even Lula Da Silva in brazil. Hell lets not go far ,just look at the curriculum and professors at our universities.
there are a few there closer to us that will be easier to control and it will be a whole lot cheaper to import meaning more PROFITS. if CHAVEZ crushes the opposition and installs his fidelista government in venezuela, THAT! WILL BE IN OUR OIL INTEREST to take him out.
but i dont see the BUNKER BUSTERS dropping on him.
[ edited by keiichem on Mar 24, 2003 04:25 PM ]
Bones - Wish we were seeing more pictures like that one. I agree there are many who are looking forward to us removing Saddam, but I believe many are afraid to show it until Saddam has been removed. I've heard some say they're just afraid they'll step out and the US will go away, like some of them believe we did in 1991. We encouraged them to rebel, then left them on their own. They lost and paid a heavy price at Saddam's hands. Now they're having trouble trusting us again....I believe.
Reamond - I agree and if this continues, I believe a change of strategy is definitely needed.
