Though shalt not covet thy neighbor's oil.

Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL)

Hey, asswipe! ITS THEIR F**KING OIL, NOT OURS!!!

No! What! Your kidding me! You can't be serious!

So is he saying it's better for american soldiers to die trying to stablize iraq than soldiers from other arabian countries?

Oil and Cosmetics. The basics.
http://tinypic.com/j9udg3.jpg

Samson,
You beat me to it!
Yeah, I remember the early days when any suggestion this invasion was about oil was met with howls of derision.
Where are all the apologies? (snark)

no shit !shecky!

Flowers and Candy and RPG's, oh my...

Remember how, back before the invasion, these people scoffed and laughed at anyone who suggested it was all about oil?

I welcome this guy's candor. This explanation makes everything we've done in Iraq make sense instead of the tortured web of logic and lies that has been spun thus far. We deserve this explanation. If we as a nation are so dependent on the fate of Iraq's oil, we are indeed a very weak democracy and fragile society.

We're there for the oil ... companies.

"It has probably 20% of the worlds oil, it's a huge amount to let an unfriendly country to control."

Who's the unfriendly country?

L.A. Confidential @ 20:

Iraq has the third largest reserves of conventional oil in the world at 112 gigabarrels.

We're there to help the Iraqi people be free. Not oil.

are you seriouse? its freeing them of thier oil, no need to pretend otherwise , think of the relief they will feel when the last barrel of oil is drained from thier soil,

Tony Snowjob is giving his final press briefing on CSPAN-3; but unless you have a
strong stomach, I strongly suggest you not tune in, for he is up to his usual BSing
about the "wonderful success of the surge". Go Away Tony...and make it quick.

No Shit.
Here's a few other reasons he failed to mention.

Military Bases / for Empire building
Control of Natural resources / to control the sheep
To give them freedom over there cause we don't
need it here anymore.

Liberal AND Proud @ 22:

"When asked by a caller why we are still in Iraq, Shays admits it’s because we just can’t let any other country control that oil."

The basis of the whole neocon agenda.

Guess what. We lost that battle already. The Chinese have been cutting deals for the last 4 years, while Chimpy has pulled his wiener playing war. The Russians have made deals to sell their oil, and to secure new reserves.

Gee, WE'RE supposed to be the CAPITALISTS! And we're getting our clock cleaned by the "Commies".

Ironic, huh.

That's because we have a dim witted monkey at the helm who couldn't find his ass with both hands. I just hope we can make it till January 2009 without a total economic collapse.

There it is again. Seems to be a sudden rush of Republicans letting the cat out of the bag. Did someone give them all truth serum? Yesterday the top on-the-ground strategist in Iraq admits that he doesn't know if what he's doing is winning hearts and minds or just making things worse. Now another GOPer admits it's all pretty much been war for oil.

What's next? Mother Theresa admitting that she wasn't sure she believed in God? Homophobic religous crusaders admitting that they're secretly gay?

Oh wait, all of that happened.

I remember my first bumper sticker.....

OIL FOR BLOOD
Billionaires for Bush
https://secure3.ctsg.com/BforB/store/Product.asp?Product=263

Purchased on March 30th, 2003
Because someone had to tell the idiots down here...the truth

correction from my earlier post:

"the best way to keep the iraqis from revolting over the theft of their oil is to keep the sides fighting amongst each other"

is it then safe to say, rep shays, that the upcoming attack on iran is also about oil?

wijg @ 25:

"It has probably 20% of the worlds oil, it's a huge amount to let an unfriendly country to control."

Who's the unfriendly country?

Iraq is.

thnx goat , im waiting now for some mother to stand up when shes asked why her son died in iraq and say it like it is, im proud my son daughter died for the gas i put in my humvee!

But Bush said they hated us for our freedom.

I suppose it all depends on just how much crap and for how long the common people will endure it before something gives.

http://www.israt.it/israt/sportello/percorsi/morte_ipsia/morte-finale/im...

Its not even about Democracy. There's no democracy in a theological society. Its a theocratic anarchy.

'We’re there to help the Iraqi people be free. Not oil.'

WTF? Free from what? THEIR OIL?

Let us know when Elvis gets here.

well, yeah. Whether you like it or not, oil permeates every facet of our lives, to place that resource in jeopardy would be manifestly dumb.

The western presence in Iraq, while not perfect and unpopular is necessary to ensure Iraq's sovereignty. Without it other countries who see Iraq's oil as a prize to be taken, will move in.

The UK has pulled its troops to the outskirts and wants out. The US increasingly doesn't want its soldiers there either. This is in contrast to other countries who would move in for conquest and pillage. Whilst some may see the actions of the West as the same, the West has tried to improve the situation and is spending billions (trillions?) on it.

Handing over internal security to the Iraqis is one thing, but making sure Iraq can defend itself from outside aggressors is another.

james, that musta been some strong koolaid.

Simon White-Thatch Potentloins @ 10:

Oil - It's the entire reason for the existence of the United States apparently.

Fuck alternative energy sources. Or, better yet drive up corn prices by pushing for ethanol to the point that farmers can't afford to feed corn to their cattle. These guys are supreme assholes.

We are so fucked if there's another oil embargo like in the 70's.

...and ethanol can never be a viable alternative fuel because of the fact that it is fully miscible in water. In other words, it's always going to be contaminated, even by the smallest amounts of water.

Blue Buddha @ 58:

After making this statement, Shays promptly spouted profanities and punched the cameraman in the face.

i thought he was familiar...

"Its a huge amount (of oil) to let an unfriendly country control."

Seriously, I just can't understand what our oil is doing under their country.

War of aggression, anyone?

This guy is a loose cannon and the gop will bash him.

Who Would Jesus Steal From?

james @ 53:

well, yeah. Whether you like it or not, oil permeates every facet of our lives, to place that resource in jeopardy would be manifestly dumb.

The western presence in Iraq, while not perfect and unpopular is necessary to ensure Iraq's sovereignty. Without it other countries who see Iraq's oil as a prize to be taken, will move in.

The UK has pulled its troops to the outskirts and wants out. The US increasingly doesn't want its soldiers there either. This is in contrast to other countries who would move in for conquest and pillage. Whilst some may see the actions of the West as the same, the West has tried to improve the situation and is spending billions (trillions?) on it.

Handing over internal security to the Iraqis is one thing, but making sure Iraq can defend itself from outside aggressors is another.

don't take this personally, but what you wrote is pure, 100%, unadulterated nonsense (in the politest terms).

what i am taking from your post is that we, as americans, have the right and the duty to invade and occupy countries around the globe because we are inherently superior to other nations/cultures.

and you claim that our occupation assures iraq's sovereignty? orwell would be impressed with this tortured logic.

and we are the ones that saw "Iraq's oil as a prize to be taken", so we invaded and handed it over to corporate interests.

your post seems to fall into the unfortunate and myopic trap of believing that america can do no wrong. and that our actions are seen in a positive light by other countries. when, in reality, the fact that our foreign policy is conducted at the behest of corporations is glaringly obvious and transparent. hence the intense anger at america throughout the world (for this and many other reasons).

which does what? yup, good answer, it helps add fuel to the terror-recruitment fire.

sorry to say, your hubris is eye opening and sad.

Several Retardicans have admitted this on the House floor as far back a 2004...

elmo @ 72:

Several Retardicans have admitted this on the House floor as far back a 2004...

Dick Cheney said that if Iraq didn't have oil, our troops wouldn't be there.

if the neighbor have such a vital interest why are they not helping? and why is the fact that the saudi's are just as guilty as iran in stiring the pot? the more i hear repubes talk, the more i realize they have no clue of what they have done or what they are doing.
and the dems need to grow the political courage to do what the majority of us want them to do. stop this mistake now.

Samson- @ 66:

james @ 53:
don't take this personally, but what you wrote is pure, 100%, unadulterated nonsense (in the politest terms).

what i am taking from your post is that we, as americans, have the right and the duty to invade and occupy countries around the globe because we are inherently superior to other nations/cultures.

and you claim that our occupation assures iraq's sovereignty? orwell would be impressed with this tortured logic.

and we are the ones that saw "Iraq's oil as a prize to be taken", so we invaded and handed it over to corporate interests.

your post seems to fall into the unfortunate and myopic trap of believing that america can do no wrong. and that our actions are seen in a positive light by other countries. when, in reality, the fact that our foreign policy is conducted at the behest of corporations is glaringly obvious and transparent. hence the intense anger at america throughout the world (for this and many other reasons).

which does what? yup, good answer, it helps add fuel to the terror-recruitment fire.

sorry to say, your hubris is eye opening and sad.

I didn't say it was right to invade Iraq - I don't think it was right to invade, but the West is there now and have a responsibility to the Iraqis. It has been mishandled massively, but the West is at least trying to make it better.

I don't think it is right for any country to invade another to get that country's resources.

Western forces should be moving into the background in Iraq and ultimately leave, but at this stage that would leave Iraq vulnerable to other countries moving in.

In essence while I do not like US forces being in Iraq, at this time they are preferable to Iranian or others, including religious factions.

Duh.

Weaseldog @ 73:

james @ 53:
I mostly agree with you.

But we're post peak on oil now and the world is in decline.

The $trillion we've wasted could've been invested here at home in infrastructure and preparation for the downturn. Instead we invested it in destroying two nations, making the ME situation worse, and the destruction of our own military readiness. Not counting the huge cost in life, with over a million human beings killed in this war for greed.

If anything goes wrong now and oil supplies are interrupted for any reason, then our military could well be forced to perform their mission without enough fuel to operate choppers and other aircraft. Here at home we'll see severe gasoline rationing.

Bush and the Congress have intentionally put us into a crisis situation where any misstep can result in disaster, while disaster plods toward us anyway.

I agree that the money would have been much better spent on R&D into alternative energy.

Tony Snowjob is giving his final press briefing on CSPAN-3; but unless you have a
strong stomach, I strongly suggest you not tune in, for he is up to his usual BSing
about the “wonderful success of the surge”. Go Away Tony…and make it quick.

Dang, he looks like Dead Man Walking...has he lost all of his hair?

Well, we know what happens when you run with the Devil...you get rode hard and hung up wet and used.

steve @ 80:

The American people are to blame for this war . They RE-elected Bush-Cheney. They (we) developed an oil saturated life style and seem only satisfied when accumulating massive amounts of stuff. Less is more, small is beautiful. Having to go and kill "hajis, sandies" is proof our acquisitive society is unsustainable. Wake up

Spot on my friend. But non the less, we need accountability, Those who lied to promote this war need to be put on trial, at least in the media.

Now - how do YOU get to work? HMMMM???? How do YOU get your food? HMMMMM????

Drive a car? Gee - now you know: the war in Iraq is being fought for your own convenience and so you can live in the suburbs - the single greatest misappropriation of resources in the history of the planet.

Drive an SUV? Now you know: people are dying in Iraq so you can nurse some bizarre illusion of safety and vanity.

Nice.

Stupid Americans. You people are going to pay for this reckless disaster you call "American Culture" for generations to come. Especially when the oil production curve really collapses in the 2030s...

The first step of any addict wanting to change or get help, is to admit they have a problem to themselves... Shay fessing up to a caller doesn't necessarily fall under that ideal. Just because he admits the truth doesn't mean the oil industry or the Bush administration thinks this is a problem... My opinion? They don't.

Evidently, the way they're frittering away lives and money, the only thing they see as a problem would be anything or anyone preventing them from getting at what they are addicted to.... Da oil on some other nations territory. Apparently if ocycontin is the hillbilly heroin, then oil is the well heeleds money making opium, marketed to addict the masses so it seems.

Yep, all in all, not really any different than your garden variety heroin addict/pusher paradigm, and the usual day to day of hustleing and stealing and yes, killing in some cases... Just to get the next fix... Solar energy anyone???? Remember, that kid in the commercials is spot on correct... The future, (if we are to have any) is renewable energy... And that doesn't mean nuke power....which isn't clean by definition with all that radioactive waste by-products and nowhere to put it......... Solar, water, wind.... Make it a mantra folks and pester the politicians to get jiggy with the concept. Or maybe radiation induced cancers, or contaminated food and water 'sources', or nuke reactor meltdowns wrecking whole regions works better for ya. That's the promise of nuclear power in a civilian environment......That's no promise at all, but makes for a pretty good nightmare when it all goes bad.......JD

I wonder how much of that crude The WarPigs have managed to siphon off for themselves over the years? Lord know it isn't being used to rebuild the country or pay for the war. I think someone needs to start investigating deeply into Cheney, Bush and all their crony's personal finances.

ckerst @ 84:

It has NOTHING to do with democracy. It is all about the oil. Iran with nukes could, and would, control all the mideast oil and until this country comes up with an alternative we are going to stuck in the middle east. Once the oil runs out we can, and will, go back to killing each other over religion.

Yeah, we can walk to the battlefield and line up in neat rows and throw spears.

Several years ago I asked a reporter from USA Today on C-Span if we would be in Iraq if Iraq had no oil. He said yes, because the war wasn't about oil. Also on C-Span Tyler Drunheller(sp.?) said flatly that we are in Iraq because of oil. Mr Drunhell was CIA/European Director for several years. Whether we control it, buy it, steal it, it does not really matter. We are in Iraq because of oil. See Crude Awakening, the documentary. This great film shows that we are currently at war over oil as a natural phenomena of dwindling resources. Check out Roscoe Bartlett, the Dem Rep from Maryland. He's been warning us about the geopolitical effects of oil for years. Ron Paul is another (though apparently despised by the left because he actually voted against the war, voted against all funding for the war, and voted against the patriot act, etc, etc.) who has stood up to this criminal government we have under Bush. Nothing is going to change until oil hits $100 pb. Or perhaps bigger players than Iran enter the fray.

james @ 77:

Samson- @ 66:

james @ 53:
don't take this personally, but what you wrote is pure, 100%, unadulterated nonsense (in the politest terms).

what i am taking from your post is that we, as americans, have the right and the duty to invade and occupy countries around the globe because we are inherently superior to other nations/cultures.

and you claim that our occupation assures iraq's sovereignty? orwell would be impressed with this tortured logic.

and we are the ones that saw "Iraq's oil as a prize to be taken", so we invaded and handed it over to corporate interests.

your post seems to fall into the unfortunate and myopic trap of believing that america can do no wrong. and that our actions are seen in a positive light by other countries. when, in reality, the fact that our foreign policy is conducted at the behest of corporations is glaringly obvious and transparent. hence the intense anger at america throughout the world (for this and many other reasons).

which does what? yup, good answer, it helps add fuel to the terror-recruitment fire.

sorry to say, your hubris is eye opening and sad.

I didn't say it was right to invade Iraq - I don't think it was right to invade, but the West is there now and have a responsibility to the Iraqis. It has been mishandled massively, but the West is at least trying to make it better.

I don't think it is right for any country to invade another to get that country's resources.

Western forces should be moving into the background in Iraq and ultimately leave, but at this stage that would leave Iraq vulnerable to other countries moving in.

In essence while I do not like US forces being in Iraq, at this time they are preferable to Iranian or others, including religious factions.

you are right, we do have a responsibility to the iraqis. and the iraqis agree about 2 things: they want us out and they want control over their own oil.

further, we--as americans--do not have control of the iraqi oil. no, it is our military and the private mercenary firms that provide security for private oil companies to take control of the oil. forget other nations, the oil will be taken from iraqis by big oil. our military is doing the bidding, again, of corporate interests, and, somehow, there is the belief that our brave troops are conducting operation iraqi liberation in the hopes of leaving a free, open and democratic iraq.

yet as far as other countries moving in: too late it has happened. chalabi, and his overt links to iran, is the oil minister.

but really, our presence there is not some sort of altruistic action based on the noble intentions, it is about complete american hegemony in further pursuit of our militant corporate empire.

Ignominious_Bush @ 86:

steve @ 80:

The American people are to blame for this war . They RE-elected Bush-Cheney. They (we) developed an oil saturated life style and seem only satisfied when accumulating massive amounts of stuff. Less is more, small is beautiful. Having to go and kill "hajis, sandies" is proof our acquisitive society is unsustainable. Wake up

Spot on my friend. But non the less, we need accountability, Those who lied to promote this war need to be put on trial, at least in the media.

I agree. Here is a suggestion for an aproppriate sentence. Spend the rest of thier lives installing solar power in low income homes.

D to the Izzle @ 101:

This is why you NEVER, EVER HEAR ABOUT CONTRACTORS!!

Oh, ever once in awhile you will hear a brief mention of the "Contractors" in Iraq.
Such as, there are more contractors(number wise) in Iraq than U.S. military personnel.
But, as to exactly what these vast/large number of contractors are specifically doing..
I have no idea other than hearing that many are "security" folks..

Doggiebobo @ 102:

D to the Izzle @ 101:

This is why you NEVER, EVER HEAR ABOUT CONTRACTORS!!

Oh, ever once in awhile you will hear a brief mention of the "Contractors" in Iraq.
Such as, there are more contractors(number wise) in Iraq than U.S. military personnel.
But, as to exactly what these vast/large number of contractors are specifically doing..
I have no idea other than hearing that many are "security" folks..

Most are mercenaries like Blackwater. The rest work for Halliburton and are frantically building the oil infrastructure. I bet the construction is blocked out on Google Earth. Clearly Dick Cheney has the authority to block out whatever he wishes (like his house at the Naval observatory)

AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 103:

Fuck the oil. I've got legs; I can walk. I'll live.

The next war is for legs.

Old Billy @ 106:

AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 103:

Fuck the oil. I've got legs; I can walk. I'll live.

The next war is for legs.

No, the next war will be for shoes. There ain't no money in legs.

Iraq Through China's Lens By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

It is hard not to feel that China has spent the last six years training for the Olympics while we've spent ourselves into debt on iPods and Al Qaeda.

-----------

What! no more recommendation of two 'friedman units' in Iraq? Which countries are going to NOT participate in the olympics as protest to the Iraq occupation?

AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 103:

Fuck the oil. I've got legs; I can walk. I'll live.

Oil is not just gasoline for your car. It's plastic. It's medicine. It's FERTILIZER that makes up for the lack of nutrients left in our soil. It's the transportation of EVERYTHING to the stores where you shop. It's the very lifeblood of our economy. As much as I hate how they're doing it, you have to realize they're doing their best to sustain the current American lifestyle, because they know we cannot live without oil, and supplies are getting tighter and tighter (oil hit yet ANOTHER high today!). We're all guilty (some of us more than others!). OK maybe the Amish carry very limited complicity.....

ahhhh!

OIL REACHES AN ALL-TIME HIGH! $80/barrel.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/12/markets/oil_record/index.htm?cnn=yes

And what pisses me off the most is that the American taxpayers will fund this greedy endeavor (in addition to all the loss of life) while a handful of corrupt assholes will get rich. Again I say, Fuck You George Bush!

Dr. Acula @ 117:

Yeah for oil! @ 97:

Uh, whats so wrong about invading another country for oil? Mankind has been doing similar things forever, so why is everyone so shocked that its going on now?
I say we nuke them all and then get their oil later. That way less people will be using up all that oil in the meantime.

Moron.

No, actually he's right. Most wars of the past were for territories for settlement or mining, and access to waterways. But after two World Wars, and the advent of various Weapons of Mass Destruction, this should be as much of our past as clonking a woman over her head to drag back to our caves.

You know how cavemen knew a woman was easy? She wore roller skates.

How did out oil get under their sand?

What oil are we controlling? We can barely control their civil war. This whole debacle is one giant kick-back to the defense industries!

Tequila @ 124:

What oil are we controlling? We can barely control their civil war. This whole debacle is one giant kick-back to the defense industries!

Actually, we control it by easing access for American oil companies to get in there to grab the oil.

Hunt Oil, A Dallas based firm, announced an agreement with the Kurdish goverment to drill in Northern Iraq where there is billions of untapped reserves. This particular company is small by most oil company standards but well known for drilling in less then hospitable territories. They drill where the big boys won't.

So yes, invading Iraq has led the way for American oil firms to cut deals with whatever goverment is set up to drill for oil. Hunt Oil is the proof and there will be more to come. The spoils of this war is going to start turning a profit before Bush leaves office. But it's at the expense of Iraqi and American lives. We're exploiting for exploration.

Bush got his way folks. It wasn't pretty but everything he does is rough around the edges anyway.

Shays knows his punk ass is toast. He kissed the Bush/Cheney juntas ass for the past 6.5 yrs. Fuck him.

'The western presence in Iraq, while not perfect and unpopular is necessary to ensure Iraq’s sovereignty. Without it other countries who see Iraq’s oil as a prize to be taken, will move in.'

Righhhht....but you had no problem with US forces invading and occupying a sovereign Iraq, in order to facilitate US oil companies raping and pillaging black gold.

Let us know when Elvis gets here.

Rosanne @ 6:

Hey, asswipe! ITS THEIR F**KING OIL, NOT OURS!!!

If god didn't want us to have all that oil, he wouldn't have given us such big guns to use to get it.

D to the Izzle @ 112:

AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 103:

Fuck the oil. I've got legs; I can walk. I'll live.

Oil is not just gasoline for your car. It's plastic. It's medicine. It's FERTILIZER that makes up for the lack of nutrients left in our soil. It's the transportation of EVERYTHING to the stores where you shop. It's the very lifeblood of our economy. As much as I hate how they're doing it, you have to realize they're doing their best to sustain the current American lifestyle, because they know we cannot live without oil, and supplies are getting tighter and tighter (oil hit yet ANOTHER high today!). We're all guilty (some of us more than others!). OK maybe the Amish carry very limited complicity.....

your post just knocked my stomach around for a minute. that the American lifestyle is so critical to be sustained as it has been- screw finding other means for production and transport, that, it's perfectly acceptable to bust down the doors of homes containing families, innocent men women and children, that it's okay to make their daily routine- the laundry, grocery runs, walking to school, deadly, that it's OKAY for CHILDREN to face daily and nightly brutality, to watch their parents be blown up, to introduce TORTURE as an acceptable means of "interrogation," that it's okay to ignite civil war to maintain ignorance to the true goals in their country, because AMERICANS can not "sustain their lifestyles" without their oil.

i agree with you- we are all guilty in many respects. every time i start my car i am supporting the war. every time i brush my teeth, every time i use my debit card at the supermarket, every time i buy my kids a toy, my hands become bloodied. watching tv or sitting here this very second using my computer, i am using products that require the use of petroleum and therefore inadvertently giving merit to the sickening slaughter of children.

don't kid yourself. there is no "greater good" involved here, there is no real necessity. this is not just about sustaining oil. this is about sustaining the myth that we are completely dependent on it, for every single aspect of our lives, and it's about sustaining the silk lining of the pockets of oilmen, and to the point that it's okay to invade sovereign countries for it.

we have known for decades that oil would not last forever, that it's not only bad for the environment, but that one day, we'd suck the earth dry of it, that the world would be thrown into utter chaos when that day came, that resource wars would be inevitable, and that alternative means for transportation and mass production had to be found.

while petroleum may be necessary for our plastics, i for one could largely do without it. there might be unavoidables, but i'm sure some innovative soul could- and likely has- come up with some petrol-free synthetics. we went without it

but what happened to the electric car? what happened to solar power? what happened to any viable resource, cheap, of even free, probably not much in terms of profit? i'll tell you what happened. we wanted to go to rehab, the oil man said, no no no!

PS If Terrance and Phillip were enough to invade....

Enter this clip as Exhibit XXX.NNN, evidence for the prosecution, war crimes and crimes against humanity tribunal, The World vs. Bush, et al.

watch for chris shays to get the dr. david kelly treatment