No, I don’t mean that western powers want to acquire the vast oil reserves of the Middle East.
Many of these conflicts have been a matter of securing trade in oil.
The shots are called by the big international energy companies, motivated entirely by profit.
Why did we rescue Kuwait during the first gulf war?
- Because Kuwait is a major exporter of oil.
Why did a coalition of western powers facilitate the overthrow of Saddam Hussein?
- Because oil exportation is a major part of Iraq’s economy.
Why did we intervene in Libya, albeit that intervention was limited?
- Libya exports oil.
Why is there renewed sabre-rattling between UK and Argentina regarding possession of the Falkland Islands?
- There is offshore oil in the South Atlantic that might be available for commercial extraction.
Argentina, oil companies and the rest of the world know that.
Don’t kid yourselves that these conflicts were/are about concern for human rights, liberation, self-determination and sovereignty.
It's all about trade in oil, and demonstrates an understandable concern by western countries about sustaining their own greedy and energy-hungry economies.
Governments dress up military intervention in respectable-sounding, altruistic spin.
Ultimately these forays have been self-serving expeditions that cost lives.
Robin Cook, foreign secretary in Blair's labour government, won my admiration when he saw through all this and resigned in 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/2859431.stm
It's all about trade in oil, and demonstrates an understandable concern by western countries about sustaining their own greedy and energy-hungry economies.
Governments dress up military intervention in respectable-sounding, altruistic spin.
Ultimately these forays have been self-serving expeditions that cost lives.
Robin Cook, foreign secretary in Blair's labour government, won my admiration when he saw through all this and resigned in 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/2859431.stm
Afghanistan?
What’s that about?
Does it have oil?
- Yes, it does, but the whole affair is presented as concern about the repressive regime of the Taliban.
Cynics like me believe that the invasion was nothing other than a misdirected reprisal by the US for 9-11.
Now there’s Syria.
There’s a civil war going on right now.
Innocent civilians are being killed by their own people.
Why has there been so little action from the international community?
- Because Syria is only a relatively minor exporter of oil.
Will it hold the rest of the world to ransom because of oil-trade?
What's next?
Discuss in less than 2000 words.
