The Oil Factor
Until the nationalization
of Iraqi oil in 1972, US and British oil companies controlled
75% of the production there. The nationalization by the Ba'ath
government (which overthrew the US-British installed monarchy
in 1958), sent shockwaves throughout the international oil industry
and virtually ended the US-British dominance of the Iraqi resources.
As Iraq turned to the Soviet and French governments for development
funds and partnerships, the US and British companies like Exxon,
Chevron, and BP grew increasingly concerned about the loss of
this profitable source of oil. In addition, the governments in
Washington and London began to look for ways to regain their
control of these oilfields, as part of their strategy to control
access to as much of the world's oil as possible.
This strategy is what has driven US military
and diplomatic moves in the Middle East since the middle of the
20th century, from the Potsdam conference to the current war
against "terrorism" and its consequent saber-rattling
against Iraq. When the UN (under the United States) began sanctions
against the Iraqi people in 1990, punishing Saddam Hussein was
a secondary goal. The primary reason for these sanctions and
their continuing existence is to prevent any governments from
trading in Iraqi oil beyond the limits set by the US-dominated
Food-for-Oil program.
As things stand today, if sanctions were lifted before any US war on Iraq, the French, Russian, and Chinese would activate oil development and trade agreements they have made with the Iraqis. All of these agreements can only begin when the sanctions are lifted. This is why the US and its subsidiary, Great Britain, refuse to consider any lifting of the sanctions and are marching their respective peoples off to war. These governments know that the only way they can fulfill their strategic and economic goals in Iraq is by invading that country, overthrowing Saddam's government, and installing a regime willing to do the bidding of Washington.
It does not have to be a democratic regime,
nor is it likely that it will be. It only has to make sure that
the oilfields in Iraq will be controlled by the US and British
oil giants. To this end, the Pentagon and its civilian counterparts
in the White House and Congress are more than willing to occupy
and rule Iraq until a pliable enough Iraqi government can be
cast. Human Rights?
counterpunch.org |
