"This is not about oil, although Iraqi oil will be put to use once the war is over. And it is not about money, although large sums of it is being spent in prosecuting the war. For the U.S. it is about establishing a base in the Middle East from which the U.S. can more easily attack al-Qaeda. It is about trying to turn Iraq into a Democratic and successful economy so that the poor, and unemployed wonât be easy recruits for al-Qaeda. And it is about sending a message to Islamic militants that when they decide to commit acts of terrorism, such as 9-11, the U.S. will come into their back yard and cause a great deal of discomfort.
The U.S. failed to tell the world that Iraq was as much a logical target as a strategic one. Saddam Hussein, the U.S. thought, was someone that neither Europe or the rest of the world would miss. Thus, the U.S. decided to attack a target that it thought would not lead to a great deal of opposition. So it began to shape its story around the weapons of mass destruction issue and the violation of human rights. In the process, they forgot one of the most crucial tenets of doing business, that money talks. And money seems to have talked well between Baghdad, Paris, Moscow, and all kinds of places in between for a long time.
Because the governments in the Middle East, France, Germany, and Russia all have or have had major economic bonanzas in dealing with Iraq, they have opposed the war.
So why are we having this war? For many reasons. But in the end, it all boils down to business. When al-Qaeda perpetrated the 9-11 disaster, aside from the human aspect, and the horror of it all, it made it difficult for the U.S. to do business around the world, as fear led to economic contraction, and resources were diverted to security, while businesses began to rethink spending plans.
But, there are always two sides to a story. The first Gulf War led to sanctions against Iraq, and the U.N.âs food for oil program. This situation gave other countries the opportunity to monopolize commerce with Iraq. And the monopoly was quite lucrative for the select few that were involved. Thus, it only makes sense then that now that the U.S. is attacking Iraq, those who have profited from sometimes illegal commerce with Iraq to vigorously oppose the war. And continue to oppose it they will. And continue to try to sabotage it they will.
UPI reported that France and Germany have put up a fight to keep U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan and his office from taking over the administration of the Iraq food for oil program. The program means $70 billion for Franceâs Banque Paribas, and has allegedly been used to smuggle illegal devices such as the hotly debated GPS jamming gear that Russia denies it sold to Iraq in violation of U.N. sanctions. There have also been news reports that France is exploring ways to enter into the bidding for Iraqi reconstruction projects."
