I have been avoiding (although enjoying) the discussion on Oil/War up until now but I feel I have to say one thing about it. To the people who say the Iraq war is all about oil, I have to say that I disagree. To those who argue that it's not about oil at all I have to disagree too. I think the focus on oil distracts the attention from the wider picture. Last year, or earlier this year, I posted a quotation from a retired US military office who in his memoirs explained his role. I include the quote again here below. My point is that it is not oil in itself but the capitalist system, of which oil is an important part, which cannot 'allow' regimes contrary to US economic interests to prosper. The US has intervened in many countries where oil played no part in the decision but where capitalism was 'threatened' by hostile, although democratically elected governments. The UK, as Colin points out, has also followed this type of policy and its history of colonial brutality almost makes the US look like an amateur. And let's not forget the Spanish empire and all its works. Here's the quote again. I agree that these acts took place a long time ago, but I believe it is pertinent to point them out as they seem to be the same type of actions that we see today.
>>I spent thirty-three years and four months in active service as a member of our country's most agile military force - the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from a second lieutenant to major-general. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short I was a racketeer for capitalism... Thus I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914, I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank to collect revenues in... I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-12. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903.<< mike in barcelona NP Coltrane - My Favorite Things (again)
