Gulf War II:

Oil or Empire? Oil or Empire?

Official View on Role of Oil

Bush spokesman Ari Fleisher: “The only Bush spokesman Ari Fleisher: “The only interest the United States has in the region interest the United States has in the region is furthering the cause of peace and is furthering the cause of peace and stability, not [Iraq’s] ability to generate stability, not [Iraq’s] ability to generate oil.”oil.”

Oil War?

Did the Bush Administration Invade Iraq to grab Did the Bush Administration Invade Iraq to grab its oil fields?its oil fields?

What’s there to grab? DOE says:What’s there to grab? DOE says: 112 b barrels of oil, 2112 b barrels of oil, 2ndnd biggest proven reserves in world, biggest proven reserves in world,

probably much, much moreprobably much, much more 110 trillion cubic feet of natural gas110 trillion cubic feet of natural gas Oil production costs among lowest in worldOil production costs among lowest in world Lots of high quality crude, e.g., low sulfurLots of high quality crude, e.g., low sulfur Reduction of OPEC, increased power for MNC’sReduction of OPEC, increased power for MNC’s Billions of dollars in reconstruction contractsBillions of dollars in reconstruction contracts

E.g., Bechtel, Halliburton, etc. profits.E.g., Bechtel, Halliburton, etc. profits.

Who Holds this View?

Popular view throughout Middle EastPopular view throughout Middle East Not surprising in view of historyNot surprising in view of history

CIA overthrow of Iranian Govt in 1953CIA overthrow of Iranian Govt in 1953 Controlled by MNC until 1972 nationalizationControlled by MNC until 1972 nationalization

Belief reinforced by priorities of invasionBelief reinforced by priorities of invasion Guarding of oil fields and oil ministry, not hospitalsGuarding of oil fields and oil ministry, not hospitals

Also view elsewhere:Also view elsewhere: Nelson Mandela of South AfricaNelson Mandela of South Africa

““All Bush wants is Iraqi oil.”All Bush wants is Iraqi oil.” Global Policy Forum & World Watch Institute: see Global Policy Forum & World Watch Institute: see

articles in syllabusarticles in syllabus

Global Policy Forum

Detailed, on-going analysis of history of oil Detailed, on-going analysis of history of oil industry connections of Bush Administration industry connections of Bush Administration policy makers & their policy statements.policy makers & their policy statements.

Paul articles from 2002 on how US victory in Iraq Paul articles from 2002 on how US victory in Iraq will lead to take over of Iraqi oil by Anglo-will lead to take over of Iraqi oil by Anglo-American oil companies.American oil companies.

Concludes that “free access” to Iraqi oil, I.e., Concludes that “free access” to Iraqi oil, I.e., control over it is real reason for invasion.control over it is real reason for invasion.

Post-invasion report: Ex-CEO of Royal/Dutch Post-invasion report: Ex-CEO of Royal/Dutch Shell, Philip Carroll, to run Iraq Oil Industry.Shell, Philip Carroll, to run Iraq Oil Industry.

World Watch Institute Set up by Lester Brown of food crisis fame.Set up by Lester Brown of food crisis fame. Liberal think tank, pro-alternative/renewable Liberal think tank, pro-alternative/renewable

energy policies.energy policies. Renner article traces US-Iraqi history, including Renner article traces US-Iraqi history, including

US money and aid to Hussein government, US money and aid to Hussein government, Rumsfeld connection, $100 billion in arms 1990-Rumsfeld connection, $100 billion in arms 1990-2001 to Gulf States.2001 to Gulf States.

Objective: cheap oil Objective: cheap oil to reinforce global economy to reinforce global economy To undermine alternative /renewable energy To undermine alternative /renewable energy To undermine pro-environmental policies, kill Kyoto To undermine pro-environmental policies, kill Kyoto

War for Empire?

Policy materials associated with Bush Policy materials associated with Bush Administration call overtly for “Pax Americana” Administration call overtly for “Pax Americana” (“Pax Britannia” was “peace of British Empire)(“Pax Britannia” was “peace of British Empire)

See Bookman reading and Kagan responseSee Bookman reading and Kagan response Edward Kennedy: “The administration’s doctrine Edward Kennedy: “The administration’s doctrine

is a call for 21st century American imperialism is a call for 21st century American imperialism that no other nation can or should accept” that no other nation can or should accept” (October 7, 2002). (October 7, 2002).

Monthly Review (New York, Left Wing)

New phase in history of imperialismNew phase in history of imperialism Quotes Bookman, invasion to demonstrate “that the U.S. is Quotes Bookman, invasion to demonstrate “that the U.S. is

now prepared to use its power at will”now prepared to use its power at will” ““Defensive war”, from Roman Empire to American EmpireDefensive war”, from Roman Empire to American Empire Control of oil & oil profits not enough.Control of oil & oil profits not enough. Control of Iraq means Control of Iraq means

control of Mideast, safety of Caspian pipelinescontrol of Mideast, safety of Caspian pipelines Leverage over china and JapanLeverage over china and Japan

Unlimited Imperial dominanceUnlimited Imperial dominance Will be challenged and undermined by other capitalists in Will be challenged and undermined by other capitalists in

other countries, competition is always unstableother countries, competition is always unstable Will be challenged by people who suffer the consequencesWill be challenged by people who suffer the consequences

“Empire”

Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt, EmpireEmpire Capitalist Empire vs multitudeCapitalist Empire vs multitude

Preventive War & Constituent StrategyPreventive War & Constituent Strategy American power: asymmetric, intransiveAmerican power: asymmetric, intransive

Monarchial power & forms of hegemonyMonarchial power & forms of hegemony Vs a vis Europe, Russia, ChinaVs a vis Europe, Russia, China Iraq is question of Europe (Japan): control of oil is Iraq is question of Europe (Japan): control of oil is

control of biopolitical powercontrol of biopolitical power Iran/Caspian is question of RussiaIran/Caspian is question of Russia Korea is question of ChinaKorea is question of China

Resistance?

Choice of field of struggle for multitude:Choice of field of struggle for multitude: Must be global networks of resistanceMust be global networks of resistance

Not nationalistNot nationalist Not fundamentalist networksNot fundamentalist networks

Must be anti-capitalistMust be anti-capitalist Not social democraticNot social democratic No participation as subjugated people or as No participation as subjugated people or as

corporatist massescorporatist masses Must accompany exodusMust accompany exodus

Must be democracy of multitude, but how?Must be democracy of multitude, but how? ““Council with computers”?Council with computers”?

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