Abizaid: "Of Course It's About Oil, We Can't Really Deny That"

Think Progress:

During a round table discussion on "the Fight for Oil, Water and a Healthy Planet" at Stanford University on Saturday, Gen. John Abizaid (Ret.), the former CENTCOM Commander, said that "of course" the Iraq war is "about oil":

"Of course it's about oil, we can't really deny that," Abizaid said of the Iraq campaign early on in the talk.

"We've treated the Arab world as a collection of big gas stations," the retired general said. "Our message to them is: Guys, keep your pumps open, prices low, be nice to the Israelis and you can do whatever you want out back. Osama and 9/11 is the distilled essence that represents everything going on out back."

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[jbloggz]

Yes it's all about oil, but not only, it's about controlling ALL the worlds resources to satisfy the greed and lust for cheap commodities to fuel Americas voracious appetite. The good news is that some other big boys want a fat share of all this too. And now the US is either gonna have to share or.... bomb their way to get it like they've always done. Only this time they might find the others not so keen to roll over and they might just fight for it too. So.... just how many wars can the US sustain?

[PollM]

This off course means supporting rogue regimes that support our policies, and if they do not go along we label them as terrorists. Are way or the highway.

Do you agree with Gen. Abizaid that American Foreign Policy has "Treated The Arab World As A Collection Of Big Gas Stations"? ---------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=717
.

[itsnotmyfault]

At a low point in Jimmy Carter"s presidency, he spoke to the American people in a speech titled "Energy and the National Goals - A Crisis of Confidence" .
“... We can take the first steps ... as we begin to solve our energy problem.
…In little more than two decades we’ve gone from a position of energy independence to one in which almost half the oil we use comes from foreign countries, at prices that are going through the roof. Our excessive dependence on OPEC has already taken a tremendous toll on our economy and our people.... It’s a cause of the increased inflation and unemployment that we now face. This intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and the very security of our nation.”

Nothing has changed, has it? Actually things are far worse now than ever. Carter went on to outline a strategy to revamp the nation’s energy policy toward the goal of energy independence. Didn’t happen. Carter’s idea of rallying around energy independence had long reaching positive implications for the health and well being of the nation. With the strategy outlined to turn to our own resources for energy, with dedication to developments in technology, and responsible conservation, as well as sensitivity to the preservation of the environment, an independence from foreign oil insured an economic independence. Achieving this would have altered the international landscape and would have allowed the US to assert itself in the world without the implications of corrupting self-interests.

Now as we all know, America has no international credibility left. Our entry into a war of choice in Iraq to satisfy our oil needs has always been a self-evident fact. And oil prices are at $83.00 per barrel and counting, on the way to exceed $100.00, sooner rather than later.
Thanks to George Bush, Dick Chaney and the Energy task force.

[Jjc2006]

No, it didn't happen because the American populace decided that proving to the world, "Rah, rah, America is best and we can beat Russia and keep bullying the world" was more important and voted in corporatist, trickle down, give money to my rich friends, Ronnie Reagan. Reagans started us down this miserable trail of avarice and bullying.
For all his faults, Bill Clinton was able to create enough good will that the rest of the western world was ready to give us another look and align with us.

But the right came back, using fear and religion and now we have got an idiot leading the country and talking about WWIII.

[clumberfeet]

So if politicians were honest they wouldn't wear an American Flag lapel pin, they would wear a Golly Roger lapel pin.

[clumberfeet]

Golly I mean Jolly Roger.

[Libertysconscience]

Thank God, for once clarity and truth.

This administration has arrogantly treated America's adult voters as if we were those kindergartener's he continued to read to after being told the nation was under attack as if the story was a higher priority such

that we are treated as if American taxpayers

and military families

can't handle the truth . . .

Guess what twits Americans taxpayers are paying with our nation's treasury while our family members and other soldiers are paying with their blood and lives for lies and candy coated distortions designed to protect the administration's horrific war, stabilization, reconstruction, and pacification incredulous incompetence that the executive has created MORE GOVERNMENT WITH LAYERS DESIGNED TO BE FALL GUYS FOR THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF'S SOLE INCOMPETENCE AS THE DECIDER
SUGGESTING AMERICA CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH . . .

WHEN IT IS THIS ADMINISTRATION

WHO CAN'T HANDLE,
RUNS FROM THE TRUTH,
THAT'S PROVIDED BY HAND PICKED GENERALS

FROM THE DUST BIN WHO ORDINARILY WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN CHOSEN FOR SUCH A SENSITIVE RESPONSIBILITY AFTER SITTING IN THE PENTAGON COUNTING THE DAYS TIL RETIREMENT, BUT SO GRATEFUL TO BE NOW NOTICED AFTER DECADES OF SERVING DURING NON-CRUCIAL CONFLICTS AND THREE DECADES OF BASIC PEACE.

LOUD AND CLEAR LET CONGRESS AND THIS ADMINISTRATION WHO STILL HIDES FROM DISSENTERS THAT AMERICA CAN HANDLE THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH, BECAUSE WE AREN'T PLAYING SOME VIDEO WAR GAME WITH TURKEY POSSIBLY ENGAGING IN A WAR WITH KURDISH TERRORISTS, AS THEY IMPLY BOMBING CIVILIANS IN IRAN BASED ON A 'BEILIEF'.

[TJTelecaster]

We need to Nationalize the America Oil Industry and all Energy..

It is the answer to so many problems and will cut costs by 30-40% create an economic boom and still send $50-60 Billion per year to development of alternate technologies, the oil infrastructure, new engine designs, perhaps even fusion..

There is much more to this but if we want to move forward into the future then Nationalizing our Oil Industry and all Energy meaning electric is the way to go..

Remember the America Oil Industry is not in the business, of putting itself out of business..!

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Your a communist man your a socialist your unamerican and your a traitor.

That's what a troll would say to you.

[abbiehoffmansghost]

There are a lot of things in this country that should be nationalized. First, anything that is a natural resource and all things that come from public lands. Second, Native Americans should get 10% of all revenues from natural resources. And third, private companies that are used to extract these resources should get a flat fee and maybe that fee should not be increased no matter what the inflation rate is for, oh say, ten or twelve years.

[SiskoKid]

What? The war was about oil? But Republicans said that it wasn't about oil! Who am I to believe!?

/sarcasm

[squareyellowpaper]

Ron Paul should win in New Hampshire but the Repubicans just don't get the message sent by Americans over the past two years.

[NotaBeliever]

When George W Bush first started this war, it was because of the WMDs ... and anyone who claimed it was about the oil was shouted down as a traitor. I remember. Damn shame the truth wasn't being broadcast by anybody anywhere anytime ... it's the oil ... now put a devalued dollar together with skyrocketing oil prices in a powderkeg region of the world ... mix in a berserk war with no clear end in sight ... and what do we get?
Damned if I know. At the very least, the neo-cons should declare Valium to be OTC.

[fourex]

Yes we can deny it's for oil. Jon Stewart has been denying it for four years.

[PollM]

This off course means supporting rogue regimes that support our policies, and if they do not go along we label them as terrorists. Are way or the highway.

Do you agree with Gen. Abizaid that American Foreign Policy has "Treated The Arab World As A Collection Of Big Gas Stations"? ---------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=717
.

[NoahVail]

As oil prices increase (presently $86/bbl) the neo-cons will attempt to expand the war in the Middle East, which of course will only drive prices higher, and cause more economic disruption in the West.

http://www.wtrg.com/daily/crudeoilprice.html

Its time to dump these bastards while we still can.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

If Bush goes unchecked the price of a barrel of oil will be well over $100 by the time he gets out. That is what the neo-cons want. That is what the energy companies and the oil companies want.

[CaptEdwardGraham]

10/15/07 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, 21, of Dunnellon, Fla., died Oct 14 in Tal Afar, Iraq, from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

10/15/07 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin, 27, of Ward, Ark., died Oct 14 in Al Busayifi, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment...

10/15/07 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, 22, of West Springfield, Mass., died Oct 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion...

10/15/07 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Sgt.1st Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, of Krum, Texas, died Oct 14 in Arab Jabour, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on patrol during combat operations. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion...

10/15/07 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Spc. Frank L. Cady III, 20, of Sacramento, Calif., died Oct.10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley...

[bluesnot]

Seriously? These soldiers were killed? I was thinking the war had ended considering the dearth of news coverage. WTF is going on?

Anger bubbling to surface, caused by lack of action by government...

[Grunty1]

If the news isn't covering it, the more likely reason is that the shit finally hit the fan than things have suddenly become peachy.

[Norge]

Captain Graham:

You need to forgive yourself Captain. You are not guilty for not having known. Now you know the death machine is a racket and that machine has chewed them up and spit them out since the times of Babalon.

[average joe]

1941 F D R lets Japan light up the Pearl drags us into a war no one wants. 1964 L B J starts the killing fields no one wants. 1991 Bush 41 starts a war no one wants becomes a police action.1992 Bill Clinton lets it stand. G Bush 43 takes over no one wants this war. 2008 H Clinton 44 starts the Iran war no one wants.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Nice bit of revisionist History.

[transendentilist]

Man you are woefully uninformed. I don't suppose you have any evidence to back up your paranoid claims.

[fedup07]

DUH! The only people who refuse to admit the truth are paid to lie! Bu$hCo invaded Iraq for oil & profits, period! Next stop Iran.

It's all about the oil stupid!

[RedRooster]

I am saddened to disagree with fedup07.

I happen to think that vast, vast numbers of Americans are willing to deny the truth about Iraqi oil because to do otherwise would be to accept their role in an illegal and immoral war which has resulted in the death, injury and displacement to millions of their fellow human beings.

Let's face it, guilt is a POWERFUL motivator. People will do almost anything to avoid accepting responsibility or to avoid feeling guilty for what has happened.

Far too many of our fellow citizens have become "good Germans", oblivious to the death around them, caused in large part by their own failure to voice meaningful opposition when they could have made a difference.

...and the damndest thing is, we simply could have bought the Iraqi oil on the open market for less than it is now costing us while attempting to steal it!

[transendentilist]

There is no doubt that Iraq is about oil, but that's not the only thing it is about. The neo-conservatives want to totally dominate the middle east. It's at the core of their politcal philosophies. They thought Iraq would be a, "cakewalk," and they could set up staging areas from which they could launch more pre-emptive strikes and regime changes. Think Iran and Syria. They have been itching to go to war with Iran for months now, if not years.

[oafishcad]

It's not about the price of oil. It's about the control and privatization of oil. If it was just pricing, we would have left Saddam in charge.