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Showing Original Post only (View all)Leaked E-Mails: Syria intervention plan fueled by oil interests---NOT--- chemical weapon concern [View all]
Syria intervention plan fueled by oil interests, not chemical weapon concernMassacres of civilians are being exploited for narrow geopolitical competition to control Mideast oil, gas pipelines
The 2011 uprisings, it would seem - triggered by a confluence of domestic energy shortages and climate-induced droughts which led to massive food price hikes - came at an opportune moment that was quickly exploited. Leaked emails from the private intelligence firm Stratfor including notes from a meeting with Pentagon officials confirmed US-UK training of Syrian opposition forces since 2011 aimed at eliciting "collapse" of Assad's regime "from within."
Much of the strategy currently at play was candidly described in a 2008 US Army-funded RAND report, Unfolding the Future of the Long War (pdf). http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG738.pdf
The report noted that "the economies of the industrialized states will continue to rely heavily on oil, thus making it a strategically important resource." As most oil will be produced in the Middle East, the US has "motive for maintaining stability in and good relations with Middle Eastern states":
"The geographic area of proven oil reserves coincides with the power base of much of the Salafi-jihadist network. This creates a linkage between oil supplies and the long war that is not easily broken or simply characterized... For the foreseeable future, world oil production growth and total output will be dominated by Persian Gulf resources... The region will therefore remain a strategic priority, and this priority will interact strongly with that of prosecuting the long war."
In this context, the report identified several potential trajectories for regional policy focused on protecting access to Gulf oil supplies, among which the following are most salient:
"Divide and Rule focuses on exploiting fault lines between the various Salafi-jihadist groups to turn them against each other and dissipate their energy on internal conflicts. This strategy relies heavily on covert action, information operations (IO), unconventional warfare, and support to indigenous security forces... the United States and its local allies could use the nationalist jihadists to launch proxy IO campaigns to discredit the transnational jihadists in the eyes of the local populace... US leaders could also choose to capitalize on the 'Sustained Shia-Sunni Conflict' trajectory by taking the side of the conservative Sunni regimes against Shiite empowerment movements in the Muslim world.... possibly supporting authoritative Sunni governments against a continuingly hostile Iran."
MORE, LOTS MORE:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/aug/30/syria-chemical-attack-war-intervention-oil-gas-energy-pipelines
Alternative links (for those of you who hate the Guardian):
http://con4lib.com/why-the-west-really-wants-syria/
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/08/201285133440424621.html
*****************
Obviously this isn't the only factor motivating foreign involvement in the conflict each faction has its own motivations. But it's hard to see how it's not a factor, especially if you consider the report mentioned below of a meeting between Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar and Vladimir Putin. Bandar, "purporting to speak with the full backing of the US," supposedly offered cooperation on oil and natural gas and promised "not to compete" with a different pipeline planned by Russia, if Putin would drop his support for Assad.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/08/saudi-russia-putin-bandar-meeting-syria-egypt.html#ixzz2d5UVLSNv
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/08/27
*****************
What The US, Russia Are Really Quarreling Over: Pipelines
For both countries, the Snowden affair is just another ho-hum spat in the greater imperial rivalry.
http://www.mintpressnews.com/what-the-us-and-russia-are-really-fighting-about/167164/
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Leaked E-Mails: Syria intervention plan fueled by oil interests---NOT--- chemical weapon concern [View all]
kpete
Aug 2013
OP
BINGO! As is and has always been every other intervention/'humanitarian' mission in the ME. nt.
polly7
Aug 2013
#3
In the Middle East, follow the Imam, literally. Religious sectarianism trumps money.
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#13
Seriously? did anyone actually think any of our involvement in the Middle East was about WMDs
Snake Plissken
Aug 2013
#6
What you fail to acknowledge is #1. Diplomatic solutions are thwarted by PUTIN
KittyWampus
Aug 2013
#8
Speaking of diplomatic solutions, what do YOU think the American and Turkish ambassadors
JDPriestly
Aug 2013
#19
I'm surprised nobody here has pointed out that *that's not what the leaked documents say*
Recursion
Aug 2013
#100
You asked: "if it were about oil, why aren't we bombing Venezuela instead?"
Little Star
Sep 2013
#123
OK, tell me specifically what you think about this pipeline made war desirable?
Recursion
Sep 2013
#124
I am no expert on the subject so it will be hard for me to explain anything......
Little Star
Sep 2013
#125
I have searched DU. It's a bunch of links to pages about the existence of pipelines
Recursion
Sep 2013
#126
If I run across some of what I've read again I'll send you a link. It's out there. Peace.
Little Star
Sep 2013
#129
What's with this story? Rebels admit gas attack result of mishandling chemical weapons
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#11
Ah, relying on Sky News, The Examiner and World Net Daily. Says a lot for you.
KittyWampus
Aug 2013
#32
I'm not relying on anything, except to ask a question here. The long-time AP reporter is credible
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#61
I'm saying that it may be untrue because it hasn't appeared anywhere else and...
George II
Aug 2013
#72
A chemical release killing over 1,400 people is NOT "relatively few people died"
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#73
Thanks. Been wondering about that report and wondering why it hadn't been reported anywhere
lumpy
Sep 2013
#105
Are you claiming that the US, France, UK had no role in those regime changes and rebellions?
leveymg
Aug 2013
#30
No. But I"m also not blindly pointing out PNAC and applying it to all situations AND ignoring Putin
KittyWampus
Aug 2013
#33
You are the only one who seems to think this is all about PNAC on this thread nt
riderinthestorm
Aug 2013
#35
I guess you glossed right over mine (and a few others') points about religious
riderinthestorm
Aug 2013
#48
On that bridge you are talking about selling, the worlds powers around 1923 thought
MindMover
Aug 2013
#82
Why else would Obama send McCain and Graham to represent his administration in the Middle East?
Catherina
Aug 2013
#57
Bandar Boosh again. Keeps rearing his head in all these ME 'conflicts' and shamefully
sabrina 1
Aug 2013
#51
why would anyone hate the Guardian besides that it disproves their talking points?
yurbud
Aug 2013
#67
I don't buy that. You wouldn't BELIEVE how tightly tied these guys are.........
AverageJoe90
Aug 2013
#91
Global Research blog is the reference for information the original poster quoted in the DU post you
lumpy
Sep 2013
#114