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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rascal who wrote (47647)	9/28/2002 11:28:40 AM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Now I understand why Russia doesn't want to authorize new UN Sanctons and the Allies are not supporting us. That certainly plays into the thinking. Though I doubt it's single variable thinking. In so far as oil is the top priority, they want to either get it from Saddam's Iraq or be first in line to get it from a post-Saddam Iraq.

To: Rascal who wrote (47647)	9/28/2002 1:10:48 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Respond to of 281500

Now I understand why Russia doesn't want to authorize new UN Sanctons and the Allies are not supporting us. Absolutely ... After all, they already have oil concessions in Iraq, as do the French and Chinese. Thus, they have a vested interest in seeing Saddam remain in power. Were the US to install a new government, then they would have to come "hat in hand" to permitted access to the Iraq resources (which I'm sure we'll be happy to accomodate). And let's face it.. Having a US supported government in Iraq will hardly be a "bitter pill" for the Iraqi people who will welcome the economic investment into their nation. No nation (or individual) truly practices utter selflessness. If we're going to spend our treasure cleaning up the area and disposing of a dictator, we're going to get something out of it. It's clearly the only way in which a mid-east version of a "Marshall Plan" can be implemented. But I certainly do not fool myself into believing that oil is the sole reason. It is merely one side benefit that makes it worthwhile financially to do what is right in principle... But the greatest benefit is some semblance of political and economic progress and a weakening of the OPEC cartel. Hawk