Despots and Money

Sometimes we hear the allegation that the war in Iraq is
about oil.
 That is only an approximation of the truth.  Really,
it is about money.  Oil at this point is merely a proxy for
money.

Certain corporations that are in Iraq stand to make a
fortune regardless of whether the oil ever is exploited.  If
the place settles down enough to permit exploitation, they will make
money developing the oilfields and/or providing security.  If
it does not settle down, they make money fighting the war.
 They win either way.



Remember before the War, from time to time we would read about how
despots such as rel="tag">Idi Amin and href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos">Ferdinand
Marcos would loot their nation's treasuries?
 Remember how complacent and superior we felt, that we did not
have a ruler like that?  



Well, guess what.  Now we do.  



Not feeling cynical yet? Read this article about the push for war with Iran.