Vladimir Ilich Lenin who dreamed up that far fetched conspiracy that global conflicts such as the invasion of Iraq, might be about scarce natural resources and markets, might be chuckling up there in the big politburo in the sky, after Alan Greenspan's latest comments. Lenin's 'Imperialism the Highest Stage of Capitalism' widely derided by neo-cons and other running dogs who should know better at websites such as 'Harry'sPlace', http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/ ,does'nt appear to be so wide of the mark after all .Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said he told the White House before the Iraq war that removing Saddam Hussein was “essential” to secure world oil supplies, according to an interview published on Monday.Greenspan, who wrote in his memoir that “the Iraq War is largely about oil,” said in a Washington Post interview that he had presented the White House before the 2003 invasion with the case for why removing the then-Iraqi leader was important for the global economy.“I was not saying that that’s the administration’s motive,” Greenspan said in the interview conducted on Saturday. “I’m just saying that if somebody asked me, ’Are we fortunate
in taking out Saddam?’ I would say it was essential.”In his new book “The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World,” Greenspan wrote: “I’m saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: The Iraq war is largely about oil.” Unsurprisingly embarrassed U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sunday rejected the comment, which echoed long-held complaints of many critics that a key motivating force in the war was to maintain U.S. access to the rich oil supplies in Iraq.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Gates said, “I have a lot of respect for Mr. Greenspan.” But he disagreed with his comment about oil being a leading motivating factor in the war.
“I know the same allegation was made about the Gulf War in 1991, and I just don’t believe it’s true,” Gates said.“I think that it’s really about stability in the Gulf. It’s about rogue regimes trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. ( Are they still trying to spin THAT line!) It’s about aggressive dictators,” Gates said. Alan Greenspan retired in January 2006 after more than 18 years as chairman of the Fed, the U.S. central bank, which regulates monetary policy., He has been conducting a round of interviews coinciding with the release of his book, which goes on sale today .
SO ALAN, YOU TOLD THEM WHY THEY SHOULD DO IT BUT THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID IT BUT FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASON- IT MUST HAVE BEEN TOUGH BEING SO MARGINALISED AND LITTLE LISTENED TO IN YOUR PERIPHERAL POST AS CHAIR OF THE FED....NO WONDER YOU RETIRED...
4 comments:
Here's my theory Greenspan is telling the truth about everything *except* not knowing that the sub prime crisis would come up.
His thinking, and that of the US ruling class, was that Iraq would be quickly occupied and that a good chunk of that 97% profit rate on Iraqi oil would be going to the US -- lessening the impact of the sub prime crisis.
The occupation of Iraq has not been successful - the resistance is weak militarily but the idea that the occupiers should leave and can be legitimately attacked is near hegemonic.
Greenspan's out of the loop now and is essentially doing publicity for his book -- but the story is quite amazing and his view of the UK economy is startling for an adviser of Gordon Brown.
It's good to see that he didn't try and propound the cliched:
"The Iraq war was justified but the public were given the wrong reasons and it failed because of the neo-cons / Bush's idiocy / lack of planning"-type excuse.
In a sense Gates is even correct, though he does not know it, when he said it is about "stability in the Gulf" if by stability we mean the existance sub-imperialist client states like Israel and Turkey, or semi-colonial dependencies like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This is great stability for the global economy and for capital accumulation. Just keep freindly client states around to do some of the dirty work for you.
GATES
Gates heads the army and he says
That these could be the best of days,
"Just heed that little realist,
Nor opportunities be missed."
Another Gates (what, are there more)
Has charitable ideas galore,
Such as installing in the schools
His microsofty clever tools.
How can there be so many Gates,
Is this a kind of profligates?
Reminds me of a time when Nixon
Had time to get his dirty licks in,
Amidst a war some thought was great,
His water - loo or water - gate.
Reagan sold arms-for-hostages,
And people still remember this
As "Iran-Contra-Gate" so to
Pay homage where homage is due.
Methinks there are so many gates,
Is this a kind of profligates?
(Waters too--but I´ll take whitewater
A million times before blackwater.)
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