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War in Iraq

No, seriously, why did we invade Iraq?
by David E. Washburn
February 22, 2007

The old cliche, 'if you've dug yourself into a hole, stop digging,' is pertinent when it comes to the war in Iraq. George Bush and his corporate sponsors who fashioned this war keep digging. Of course they are digging for oil so are unlikely to stop.

By now almost every citizen recognizes that Iraq was not an imminent threat to the United States even if it had had weapons of mass destruction. We toppled a brutal dictator, but of all the brutal dictators in the world why did we choose this one? We are certainly not rushing into Africa to depose their brutal dictators, stop the genocide, and thrust democracies upon their nations at the point of a gun. Although the war has created terrorists, they were not present in substantial numbers in Iraq at its onset. And now, George Bush threatens to widen the war to include Iran and Syria.

If we did not make this 'pre-emptive' strike against Iraq primarily over weapons of mass destruction, or to unseat Saddam, or to fight terrorists, or to create a democracy, why are we shedding American blood there?

It is about oil, 'black gold.'

At the onset of our occupation of Iraq our soldiers were not tasked to protect Iraqi antiquities, many of which were looted, but did guard the Oil Ministry. The Bush administration was willing to go to war over oil and to protect the interests of their corporate sponsors in big oil, big energy, and the automotive industry rather than fully commit our nation to energy independence. We are trying to maintain a controlling presence in the Middle East as we continue to rely on oil.

Our largest competitor for the world's diminishing oil reserves is China. They are willing to pay top prices to secure the oil necessary to fuel their rapidly expanding industrial base as well as the automobiles of that increasing portion of their population who are gaining affluence. Our citizens, who are used to relatively inexpensive gasoline, would punish the politicians in power if prices were to skyrocket. If oil simply went to the highest bidder, China would corner the market. So the political and corporate will to maintain access to oil reserves and leverage over the people who control them is strong.

If our goal were to limit bloodshed and give the Iraqi nation their best chance to establish stability, we would support an international diplomatic effort. But, the Bush administration wants to maintain an ascendant position in the Middle East, dominate not negotiate. Bomb Iran and Syria rather than attempt a dialogue with them.

Furthermore, corporations like Halliburton, Parsons, Fluor, Washington Group International, Shaw Group, and Bechtel have made billions off this war and have a large stake in our continued presence in Iraq. Therefore, George Bush, their representative in office, is unlikely to accept a diplomatic solution to this fiasco which might decrease our influence. In his speech to the nation he indicated that his idea of diplomacy was to get other nations in the region to support his policy. Real diplomacy, which involves a give and take, will have to be forced on the president by the congress. Unfortunately, many in congress depend on corporations to fund their reelection campaigns. When it comes to choosing between retaining power or solving problems their track record is not benign.

So the president continues his risky, and, for four years, unsuccessful military strategy and the congress postures and jostles for political gain. Our soldiers remain in harms way in the middle of an ages old sectarian struggle. And, daily we make new enemies who will hate our blood for generations to come. It would be better to get back to the war on terror. Use our troops to rid Iraq of the foreign terrorists, who have entered the country since we arrived, and secure Afghanistan where the Taliban have returned and poppy production, which supports terror, is at an all time high.

America really needs to be rid of the cabal who blundered into the war in Iraq without foreseeing its consequences. We need politicians more concerned with solving problems than positioning themselves for the next election. And, we need a political class willing to blunt the power of oligopolistic multinational corporations who control markets and shape national policy in their, rather than the peoples', interests.

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David E. Washburn is the author of Multicultural Education in the United States among other works. Reach him at david@davidewashburn.com.

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