Letters to the Editor
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@ David Larry D
OK, smart guy, if you're so convinced Iraq and Iran are about OIL, how come we didn't invade the Middle East in the 70's when OPEC cut production?
Oh, I know, I know! Call on me!!!
Because back then we didn't have avaricious and amoral, albeit stoopid, preznits (not to mention having a Soviet Union that was a trifle less accommodating to any such American imperialism).
But FWIW, you need to read Stephen Kinzer's book(s) "All the Shah's Men" (and "Overthrow") to see what motivated our policies, back in ... say, 1953? Do yourself a favour and do so. Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
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Burn down the Jews
C'mon folks, at least be honest about it. Some of the posts here sound like Soviet era agitprop. I'm so glad Glenn is your inspiration, as it can only make his and your case lose credibility.
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@quickstrategy
I'm sorry, but I can't help thinking about the Festrunk brothers when I hear "Ukrainian X-55 cruise missiles..."
http://tinyurl.com/3jksu4
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Azeris and other Iranian minorities
Do you have the slightest bit of substance to add or is it just namecalling? [...] you should know the Aziris are a fairly marginalized and persecuted underclass in Iran. -- Electro Robot
Actually, I'd like to see your citations regarding the Azeri minority in Iran; I had the impression that, while Persians control the uppermost levels of the national government the Azeris were not a persecuted sub-group, especially not in the regions in which they predominate.
Given your clearly stated, strong preference for substance over namecalling, I believe that you are both able and willing to provide links to the requested information.
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to: Arne
Yes, I am well aware of the Eisenhower-sanctioned 1953 CIA coup that overthrew the Iranian President (Mossadegh?) and put the Shah in power.
That was definitely motivated by OIL, as Iran had just nationalized its reserves.
OK. I am not denying that US policy is in part directed by OIL.
However, I am saying I am skeptical that our current occupation of Iraq is motivated by OIL. It just doesn't make sense to me. Why a full-scale invasion of Iraq? Why not a CIA coup to topple his regime? Was Husseins grip on power more solid than in Iran? Why Iraq then? Why not Iran in 2003? Or why not Saudi Arabia? They are a less densely populated nation that has even MORE OIL than Iraq. Seems like that would make a better strategic target than Iraq if you're after OIL. And they even had the war gift-wrapped: 19 of the 9/11 highjackers were Saudi citizens if I remember correctly.
I guess it comes down to whether or not you believe the Bush administration really is that stupid... to think that the American public & the rest of the world would tolerate such a naked grab for resources in the form of an unending occupation of Iraqi territory.
As incompetent as they are, they know exactly what the bottom line is in Iraq: War for profit's sake.
Hey, if history proves me wrong, I'll admit it. But it's like Lenin said, (thinking of the Big Lebowski here) you look to see who profits, and there is your culprit.
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another interesting fact about the USS Liberty
Adm. George Stephen Morrison, father of Lizard King JIM MORRISON, had his naval career cut short because he apparently advocated a military response to the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty. From the wiki...
Some believe his Naval career may have been slowed by political undertones surrounding his analysis of the USS Liberty incident which occurred in 1967. Morrison opposed the official US Navy response to the attack, and proposed an immediate and swift economic and military response against Israel for the attack on an official US Navy ship.
Morrison's analysis and political motivation was at odds with the soft non-militaristic response ultimately taken by the US State Department and US Navy. Morrison asserted Israel intentionally attacked the USS Liberty, trying to disguise Israel torpedo boats as Syrian vessels in an attempt to provoke a war between the United States and Syria. This would have increased United States military and financial assistance during the Six Day War.
Come on baby, light my fire...
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Wail Me A Wall . . . errr, fence
Electro-lux posts (inbetweenies): "Burn down the Jews
C'mon folks, at least be honest about it. Some of the posts here sound like Soviet era agitprop. I'm so glad Glenn is your inspiration, as it can only make his and your case lose credibility." Sheesh. Between you & mr. zukerman (e.e. cummings be-danged), I really couldn't give a flying fernando. Yep, everybody hates those joos. Specially themselves. Self loathing creatures. Sorry, 'lectro, but that just ain't gonna stick no more.
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PDA, get off my Festrunk.
Hey, my husband resembles those guys. ;-}
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@DLD
how come we didn't invade the Middle East in the 70's when OPEC cut production?
OPEC cut production as a response to our logistical support of Israel during the 1973 war. Israel could not have done what it did without US bombs, bullets, and fuel. The Arabs knew this then and now. Imagine $4 gas in the early 70s, which is what would have happened had we invaded.
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@Holly
From Amnesty:
"Iranian Azeri Turks, who are mainly Shi’a Muslims, are the largest minority in Iran, [and are] believed to constitute up to 25 per cent of the population. They are located mainly in the north and north-west of Iran. As Shi’a, they are not subject to the same kinds of discrimination as minorities of other religions, and are well-integrated into the economy, but there is a growing demand for greater cultural and linguistic rights, including implementation of their constitutional right to education through the medium of Turkish."
Link at sig:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130102006?open&of=ENG-IRN
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@ David Larry D
Why a full-scale invasion of Iraq? Why not a CIA coup to topple his regime?
I told you: Stoopidity, coupled with avarice and amorality.
FWIW, we had been trying to get a coup going for a while, paying off Ahmed Chalabi and his band of thugs millions of dollars to do that. They spent/embezzled/stole it all, and with nothing to show for their efforts, so the wiser heads cut them off. But Ctheney et al. was buds with Chalabi (as was Dubya, who had Chalabi as featured guest next to Laura one time at the SOTU address), so Chalabi had the ear of the maladministration and their help (remember the staged pictures, with Chalabi's thugs coming late to the party to "take the flowers and kisses" after letting our soldier shed their blood so they could be transported in?)
There's been a couple Republicans lately that have let slip that it was about the oil, including Greenspan and McCain.
Cheers,