Bobby Kennedy and Palast on why Saddam had to go.

[kpete]

“THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD FOR BIG OIL”

Published by Greg Palast August 3rd, 2006 in Articles, Interviews & Chats, Podcasts, Audio Interviews
…Bobby Kennedy and Palast on why Saddam had to go.

“This war in Iraq has been the best thing in the world for Big Oil and OPEC. They’ve made the largest profits in the history of the world. The interesting thing about your book is you show how it was all planned from the beginning. The story is like a spy thriller.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Listen to RFK and Greg Palast on Iraq, a 20-minute conversation about blood and oil, the podcast of ‘Ring of Fire’ from Air America at: http://www.gregpalast.com/the-best-thing-in-the-world-for-big-oil#more-1468
(Scroll to bottom of page to listen)

The following is part of the story referenced in their discussion:

THE JERK: WHY SADDAM HAD TO GO
by Greg Palast
Excerpt from ‘Armed Madhouse‘

The 323-page multi-volume “Options for Iraqi Oil” begins with the expected dungeons-and-dragons warning:

The report is submitted on the understanding that State Department] will maintain the contents confidential.

For two years, the State Department (and Defense and the White House) denied there were secret plans for Iraq’s oil. They told us so in writing. That was the first indication the plan existed. Proving that, and getting a copy, became the near-to-pathologic obsession of our team.

http://www.gregpalast.com/the-best-thing-in-the-world-for-big-oil#more-1468

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. I just read Palast's book

The problem I have with it is his complete disbelief in the idea of "Peak Oil". His argument is that the Oil GIants have invented the idea of "Peak Oil" to justify high oil prices. Unlike other arguments he makes in the book, however, this one seems to be based purely on supposition and it ignores the wealth of reliable data that Peak Oil is, in fact, a legitimate concept.

[RUZIK1]

3. Peak oil is

an invention of the industry. Oil companies have no idea how much oil is available deeper than the deepest oil well. They are not even aware of how this material occurs or where it comes from. The speculation is just pure guesswork.

[mopinko]

5. i think so, too.

i admit i do not know, but i was there in the early 70's. a completely made up "oil crisis", which was intended, imho, not just to make people rich, but to trash the american economy, and destroy jimmy carter.

[karynnj]

7. No matter how much is there, it is a finite resource

With a demand curve that is constantly increasing. You could say we aren't at "peak oil" yet, but logicly there is a point at which we will be. The issue, though not the intensity, is relevent. We need to invent our way out of this problem because currently our standard of living is dependent on huge amounts of reasonably cheap oil.

Additionally, the use of oil has negative impacts on the environment - that Gore has made easy to understand. Developing substitutes before oil runs out is better anyway. (I liked Kerry's comment that the "stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones". )

[redacted]

2. Wow, kpete you're great! How do you get it all done?

Amazing. Another incredible catch and share. Recommended, as usual.

[warrens]

4. I really recommend this book

I saw him speak about the time it came out, and it's fascinating, and extremely valuable because it gathers a lot of stuff I vaguely knew into one handy reference. With this whack-a-mole administration, where every outrage is immediately upstaged by something even worse within a few days, it's hard to remember all the evil things they have done. For $25, most of which goes to pay his research and investigative staff, it's a steal.

[RufusEarl]

6. I just finished Armed Madhouse,

my take was Palast made the argument that Peak oil was manufactured by big oil. Also Palast made the point that Hubbert's Peak oil was conceived on the available retrievable oil, he made the point that the planet had plenty of oil but it was very expensive to retrieve.

But now that oil is selling for 70+ dollars per barrel, we will see big oil go after it. Me thinks this was one one the reasons we went to Iraq and Afghanistan, it had the effect of raising oil prices.

Just my 2 cents!!

[mirandapriestly]

11. I read that too.

Also, he pointed out that in 1996 bin Laden wrote his "war declaration" and his big complaint was that he wanted the US to get out of Saudi Arabia (mostly he was concerned about the oil) and few people know this, but we DID JUST THAT , we gave into terrorist demands in, I think, 2002 and got out of Saudi Arabia. So what is the "War On Terror" all about? We gave into their demands.

[Hoping4Change]

8. Thanks for posting.

[JackNewtown]

9. Good read, good points, thanks for posting nt

[Junkdrawer]

10. I think they have the Big Oil's short term plan...

But those multi-billion dollar military bases in Iraq tell me that the long term plan is to control the Iraqi oil for the day it's needed.

See:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1503947