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

[Trittydi]

Succinct.
*

[godlessclif]

Hastert?

Hastur Hastur Hastur
He's your master
Once you've said his name
Hastur Hastur Hastur
Run much faster
It'll be the same
Ia-hahhhhh
That's the sound of your screams
Now you've said the name of Hastur
He who can't be named.

H.P. Lovecraft
http://www.kthulhukitsch.com/

[sneezeguard]

I'm very much a liberal, but did anyone ever think what would happen should the globe's oil supply become a resource controlled by those who wished harm to the west?

Yes, going to war under false pretenses is treasonous, and going to war against a country under false pretenses in order to gain control of their oil, well, I don't know the term for that, besides "criminal" and "treasonous" but this nation is sooooo inextricably tied to petrol that this step by the Bush Admin can be seen as.....well, how can it be seen?

[robinhood1]

So it's all about oil. That's not surprising. So when are the Democrats going to start pushing for higher gasoline taxes and better gas mileage standards? Now that crude oil is at an all time high ($86 a barrel), it would only take a few refinery problems to push the price up to well over $4 per gallon in California and other high cost areas of the country. During the coming months and years, a lot of Americans are going to feel a lot of financial pain at the gas pump. Maybe they will stop thinking of mass transit as being only for poor Latinos and Blacks.

[bookish]

Here's a thought. For the bus lines you've got, try installing benches at the bus stops. And trash barrels. Maybe go crazy and add a roof to keep off the sun and the rain.

It's like we do everything possible to make mass transit a miserable experience.

[boyd]

Thank you! Wish you were
exagerating, but mass transit in the Midwest at least is a nightmare of discomfort and unpredictable service. Car ownership is mandatory where I reside... employers will not hire anyone w/o their own vehicle because they KNOW a person cannot be depended on to show up for work if they have to use the sad mass transit option.
Uncivilized and backwards would describe our outlook.

[RogerHWerner]

Robert Gates said: “I think that it’s really about stability in the Gulf. It’s about rogue regimes trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. It’s about aggressive dictators.” Gates is obviously sincere and telling the truth in so far as his statement is taken literally. But the man is being deliberately disingenuous to suggest that our concerns over regional stability don't hinge on oil. We have never made any comparable commitment in any other part of the world for the sake of stability and the free flow of goods. This brings us back to first cause: Oil. We invaded Iraq to protect the free flow of oil and even though he was not in on the decision-making process in 2003, Gates is far to smart and well connected to believe oil has nothing to do with the present situation.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Most commenters below are focusing exclusively on the "oil" angle.

But note the the General hit on two other angles -- Israel-Arab relations and Arab-internal policies -- and he did so in context of the three TOGETHER.

If nothing else, the middle east is a pressure cooker containing tens of millions of people being repressed by their pertrodollar-rich governments.

They see the US as on the wrong side of every aspect of our involvement in their world: not supporting THEIR voices; enriching their governments (though not necessarily the peoople); and of course, backing Israel unconditionally.

[ajax2]

It feels a bit strange that Alan Greenspan and Gen. Abizaid have come out quite clearly that the Iraq invasion was all about oil, while so many Dems and Libs just can't face it.

[TLV]

What are you smoking? It's the Democrats who have been screaming exactly this since before the war started.

It was Bush and his brainless sheep who droned on and on about WMDs, Al-Qaeda, and revenge for Saddam Hussein killing his own people.

[ajax2]

Pelosi said yesterday that she can find no impeachable crimes.

[racetoinfinity]

and bringing "democracy" to Iraq, as if they could just drop it magically from the sky.

[ajax2]

Biden didn't say war was about oil. He said it was WMD.
Here is Joe Biden saying Saddam has WMD
Biden: I was correct about that. I also said at the time that I did not think he had weaponized his material, but he did have these stockpiles everywhere.

Biden: It turned out they didn't, but everyone in the world thought he had them. The weapons inspectors said he had them. What he did with them, who knows?

Q: Gen. Zinni, when he heard the discussion about WMD that Saddam had, said, "I've never heard that" in any of the briefings he had as head of the Central Command. How could you as a US Senator be so wrong?

Biden: I wasn't wrong. When asked about aluminum tubes, I said they're for artillery. I don't believe they're for cascading.

Q: But you said Saddam was a threat.

Biden: He was a threat.

Q: In what way?

Biden: If Saddam was left unfettered, with sanctions lifted and billions in his coffers, then he had the ability to purchase a tactical nuclear weapon.

The list of Dems who said WMD and not oil is very long.

[ajax2]

Biden didn't say war was about oil. He said it was WMD.
Here is Joe Biden saying Saddam has WMD
Biden: I was correct about that. I also said at the time that I did not think he had weaponized his material, but he did have these stockpiles everywhere.

Biden: It turned out they didn't, but everyone in the world thought he had them. The weapons inspectors said he had them. What he did with them, who knows?

Q: Gen. Zinni, when he heard the discussion about WMD that Saddam had, said, "I've never heard that" in any of the briefings he had as head of the Central Command. How could you as a US Senator be so wrong?

Biden: I wasn't wrong. When asked about aluminum tubes, I said they're for artillery. I don't believe they're for cascading.

Q: But you said Saddam was a threat.

Biden: He was a threat.

Q: In what way?

Biden: If Saddam was left unfettered, with sanctions lifted and billions in his coffers, then he had the ability to purchase a tactical nuclear weapon.

The list of Dems who said WMD and not oil is very long.

[wmbear]

AND BUSH/CHENEY & CO. ***ARE*** ADMITTING IT???...

Last I heard, when Alan Greenspan said the U.S. occupation of Iraq was about oil, the White House spin cycle basically pooh-poohed the idea....

[kevenseven]

I'm a Dem and a lib, and I've understood this for quite some time....

[Stevereno]

It's primarily about oil profits. Anyone who denies this simply has their head in the sand.

[ariuszme]

I would like to suggest, whether you agree with him or not, whether you're Repub or lib or Dem, whether you've seen it before, please please watch (or rewatch)

Fahrenheit 911 by Michael Moore.

Hate the guy all you want those of you on the right. I only ask that you sit down and watch it.

See the under cover cameras at a company party leading up to the war and how they knew they'd profit off the war.

See the connection of Bush to the Saudi royalty, as in Saudi Arabia where 19 OF THE HIJACKERS CAME FROM.

See the Bush / Cheney connection to The Carlisle Group and Haliburton.

Please take the opportunity to see it and share it with others.

[Kansas Evans]

I've watched. I agree it's a mustsee.

Maybe you can help me out. Seriously. Why is that so many conservative hate Moore. It's almost like they think he's lying. What's up with that?

[brooklyncitizen]

It's human nature and most notably Republican nature. Right wingers/ conservatives by nature are not interested in points of views that DIFFER. THe concept of an open mind is non-existent, look at Kristol,Bush, Coulter,Steve Miller.... and anyone appearing on Fox.Regardless of hteir "profession" their response is to attack anything that threatens their status quo. THis is why mass education is not valued, people must be manipulated and bullied into falling in line.

It's working beautifully.

[TLV]

It is difficult for people to admit they have made a terrible mistake voting for Bush and Cheney that cost the lives of our brave soldiers and those of our allies all for the sake of oil profits that few of us will ever realize in our own personal bank accounts.

[Stevereno]

It has always been about profits for companies - oil companies, companies like Carlisle and Haliburton, companies like Blackwater.. the list goes on, and it is LONG.

PROFITS. This is the republican mantra. PROFITS ABOVE ALL.

[stephm]

read Naomi Klein's new boob "Shock Doctrine". Its very informative and it will make you angry.

[stephm]

yes i know not her boob, her book...

[maxfusion]

Are you speaking of the same M. Moore that plagiarized the name of his shockudrama, and wouldn't return the calls of the real author and address his concerns. Moore is a phony, who owned
Haliburton stock when he released his sham. By the way, avoid doing business with a man whose ass is wider than his shoulders. Have a nice day.

[kevenseven]

The title "Farenheight 9/11" was used where, before?

Got actual proof that Moore owned Haliburton, and I do not mean in a Mutual Fund?

No?

[RichardD]

Too scary...cause if he mentions it...he's on the list...candidate for "extraordinary" rendition. Like all of us.

[ariuszme]

This is 2007. In 2003 early on I KNEW IT WAS ABOUT OIL (if not before that).

How many Generals have to speak up?
How many Generals and Judges have to retire so they can speak up?

How many people like Richard Clark who spent over 30 yrs serving under presidents of both parties in national security at a high level job, have to retire early so they can speak up before AMERICANS WAKE THE F'K UP AND LISTNE?

HOW MANY?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

I'm taking a small ad hoc poll:

Have there been more al Qaeda #2's killed, or more retired Generals finally speaking out against the Iraqupation?

[hydenorhare]

More from Sanchez. But the NYT forgot to mention it because it's about the media.

"FOR SOME OF YOU, JUST LIKE SOME OF OUR POLITICIANS, THE TRUTH IS OF LITTLE TO NO VALUE IF IT DOES NOT FIT YOUR OWN PRECONCIEVED NOTIONS, BIASES AND AGENDAS."

http://www.militaryreporters.org/sanchez_101207.html

[kevenseven]

Yeah? So?

What's your point?

Besides the one on top of your head?

Would you care to repeate your assertions that Bush IS America, and that to criticize Bush is therefor treason?

[wordvarc]

The 21st Century

Conflict and energy.

then

Conflict and water.

Maybe that's why w bought the spread over that massive aquafer in Paraguay.
.

[wordvarc]

The 21st Century

Conflict and energy.

then

Conflict and water.

Maybe that's why w bought the spread over that massive aquafer in Paraguay.
.