T. Boone Pickens Thinks America Should Just Take All Of Iraq's Oil

T. Boone Pickens has garnered much renown over the past two years with his "Pickens Plan" for energy independence, which basically reads: "America should start using all this natural gas I'm heavily invested in, so why not buy me a lucrative delivery infrastructure for it with taxpayer money?"

But, hey, here's a new aspect of Pickens' prescription for weaning America off foreign oil: Let's just agree that the oil trapped in the ground in Iraq, is now, magically, American oil! It's not like Iraq has a sovereign government that has to find a way to fix badly damaged Iraqi infrastructure that got destroyed for some reason!

Reuters reports:

Boone, speaking to the newly formed Congressional Natural Gas Caucus, complained that the Iraqi government has awarded contracts to foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, to develop Iraq's vast reserves while American companies have mostly been shut out.

"They're opening them (oil fields) up to other companies all over the world ... We're entitled to it," Pickens said of Iraq's oil. "Heck, we even lost 5,000 of our people, 65,000 injured and a trillion, five hundred billion dollars."

Aw, heck and shucks and dagummit! We lost so many people and dollar bills in Iraq! Who can really say how any of that stuff came to pass? Anyway: GIVE US THE OIL. ALL OF IT.

Sadly, as ThinkProgress' Zaid Jelani notes, the United States is bound as a signatory to the Hague Conventions, which bar occupying forces from confiscating private property and "formally prohibits" anyone from "pillaging" an occupied nation. But doesn't international law understand anything about American exceptionalism?

RELATED:
Pickens says U.S. firms 'entitled' to Iraqi oil [Reuters]
T. Boone Pickens: U.S. 'entitled' to Iraqi oil. [ThinkProgress]

[Would you like to follow me on Twitter? Because why not? Also, please send tips to [e-mail] -- learn more about our media monitoring project here.]

Comments

[research]

Frack Pickens.

[everychildsnana]

The Hague is clear, but what is clear about Iraq "government" contracting with the Chinese to develop its oil reserves and shutting down
USA Oil companies' interests? USA Oil Companies" Interests? When did the Chinese contratcs go out? Why no more to USA Oli companies "Interests?" Those are answers no politico, bureaucrat or oil baron will tell us, not truthfully and fully, that is.
However, the trillion and a-half dollars is not the Iraqis or the USA Oil companies, or the Chinese interests. It came directly from our basic abilities to live ordinary but financially and medically secure lives and extends through our grandchildren's lives. That money is not covered by the Hague Convention,doesn't apply to the "occupying forces", AND as far as "PILLAGING " is concerned: We- the Real Average Middle Class are subjected to the "PILLAGING" first by the Congress and White House; then in concert with those two august DC institutions, by slimy creepy War Lords masquerading as leaders of neo-Nations who get trillions, not billions.Trillions over eight years.

[balancedsolution]

funny. and i thought Iraq was supposed to pay the US for the war in Oil rewards.

T.Boone Pickens. Oil man at heart.

Gotta love his tenacity

[Pilate]

And the mask comes off.

[idisVA]

While at it, let us not forget to take all of Afghanistan's heroine puppies

[Michigan-Woman]

So glad the world is seeing this opportunist, con-man for what he really is.

[gumbo1049]

If thats the case then the only people who deserve to have the oil are the families of our soldiers who gave their lives for it.

[Pilate]

Don't give him any ideas. If such a thing were possible, he would find a way to steal the rights from the families, just like the railroads did in the late 1800's (with Republican assistance, I might add).

[BambooHarvester]

T. Butt Pickins . . . . .

[gramma61]

So did the Bush's.That plan didn't work out too well.

[clearwaterclearmind]

you can't spell spoils without oil.

[jws2346]

Great ideer there Mr Boone, I think you should be the point man on the patrol that takes the oil. That way after you go out, the whole patrol can just go back to base.

[OtayPanky]

It's time to eat your nice pudding.

[elmerfude]

We have a history of taking whatever we want from indigenous peoples.

[Pilate]

Sad, but true.

[dutt]

With a name like T Boone Pickens, I think this guy missed his true calling; banjo player.

[fictioneer]

It's talking, make it stop!