He also made it clear he was setting Iraq up so his successor could not get out of "our destiny"

[CatWoman]

sound familiar?

[havocmom]

1. Geographically, isn't Iraq a handy place to stage security forced for oil and/or gas pipelines

Aren't there some big players wanting big pipelines to big markets?

Iraq, the new hub of corporate security forces under the guise of US Military.

I HATE these bastards!

[Star]

3. So much more than corporatism

Think about it. With a permanent military base in Iraq, the US can control the DISTRIBUTION of the oil. It doesn't matter who's making money off of that oil, it matters who's buying the oil. If we control the oil, we control the buyers. Any country who wants to buy mid-east oil will have to play nice with US or else we'll cut them off.

You know how Bush claims that "history" will vindicate his decision to invade Iraq? Well, picture this scenario:

Peak oil has come, oil supplies are limited, oil prices are sky-high. Every industrialized country needs that oil, but we control its distribution. Many countries are facing severe oil shortages, but not the US. We have plenty. Yes, prices are very high, but we still have as much as we want. No shortages here. Our lives can go on as they've always done.

What do you think people in the future will say? How about "Thank God Bush invaded Iraq in 2003. At least now we have all the oil we need."

Do you think people in this future scenario are going to care how many Americans and Iraqis died so that we can control the oil? Or is it more likely they will care about the latest new Hummer, the latest American Idol, the latest version of the IPOD?

That's why Iran, Venezuela, and Russia are such threats to us. We still can't control the distribution of their oil. Africa we don't have to worry about - they're involved in so much internal strife, we could easily step right in when the time is right.

This is depressing as hell, but I believe its exactly what's going on.

[havocmom]

4. With at least two generations of war ahead of us owing to the mess in Iraq

I doubt anybody outside the top 0.5% will be thanking anybody for bush.

And, more important than oil ...Water. I keep thinkin about those two nice rivers, cradle of civilization and all that.

Pipelines. Oil. Gas. WATER that could be sold to all those wealthy folks moving into 'The Palms' and 'The Word" in Dubai.

Depressing: besides all the lives ruined or ended, is all the lost $$ that could have been going to R&D for REAL energy solutions as the crunch approaches. Lost opportunities to really address problems.

I see your view and agree with it... except for the part about people thanking God bush invaded Iraq. I fear Iraq will be a US penal colony by then, with most of us free thinkers toiling for oil barons, gas bags, up & coming water squirt moguls.

We have assured generations of hatred. Our great-grandkids will be paying for THAT along with the bills this leaves them.

Only the top 0.5% will be singing praises and thanking god for the madness of king george.

[Star]

5. Ah, geez, the water

I forgot all about the water.

Of course, you're right. Add water to the mix. Another wedge "we" can use to control other countries.

[havocmom]

6. I live in an agricultural area in the US where water is being tied up

Water is the BIGGIE coming at us.

Put on a tin roof, dig a cistern, and plant a garden. Food is gonna get pricey now that the corporations are tying up the water.

You hate giant corporations in charge of your gas tank? They are aiming at your belly now, my friend.

[necso]

2. If he used "our ruin",

I could relate better.

Of course, there's a lot more to that ruin than just Iraq. He's screwed up pretty-much everything that the federal government touches. And the government itself is a mess -- polluted, debased, corrupted.

The elites have done well though.

I feel the pull of the gravity well; the pnr gets closer.