But do you think that by the time oil production is increased the US will get to have some of its expenses paid,
Oh really now.. too many people are concentrating on the material cost of this war without reviewing the economic benefits. Changing the regime in Iraq will hopefully break the back of OPEC.. Keeping oil prices below $30/bbl and hopefully around $20-25, would be of HUGE global benefit to the vast majority of struggling economies.
Think of this like an urban renewal program. We chasing out the gangs and thugs who have been exploiting the resources of the region for their own corrupt benefit, and hopefully creating an environment where business can thrive based upon real social change as the system is decentralized from the state/private fascist system which exists today. There is simply NO REASON that Iraq, being so rich in oil that the world needs to fuel it's economy, has to remain in poverty.
But where we have to worry is when we try and form the peace. It will be interesting to see how much opposition the US/UK receives in implementing the "Japan solution" as we did after WWII.. But the military commander already designated as being the military governor, is Lebanese-American, fluent in Arabic, and a great symbol of how the US system creates a measure of inclusiveness and opportunity... It's a smart move to put him in place as the head of any interim government in Iraq until they can get a constitution and government structure in place that is not based upon clans and religious allegiances. This could take some time.
apaam.org
or will the world cry "plunder", and we will get to eat all the costs? I suspect the latter.
They're being plundered right now.. One of the ideas I've advanced out here (and am trying to find an ear for in other offices) is the possibility of setting up a form of "permanent fund" similar to what exists in Alaska. The state oil assets in Iraq will have to be privatized, with shares sold to various domestic and international oil concerns so they will have an incentive to invest. So the question is for what price, and how that money from the sale of such assets is distributed.
I believe it would at least symbolically important to establish a national fund for each Iraqi citizen out of a significant portion of this sale revenue. That would work to insure that the average Iraqi would have a stake in the "system", as well as making the system accountable to the people. It could be set up as an educational fund, or as they do it in Alaska, as an annual dividend distribution.
Every Iraqi anticipating that annual dividend check would place a severe restraint on the power of corrupt government officials to divert those funds. And it would create a sense of political and economic empowerment and participation. And every Iraqi having a stake in the system, rather than any particular political party or leader, could create a societal cohesion that is currently lacking..
Feel free to provide suggestions on how to enact such a fund, if you're interested..
Hawk |
