If you thought it was "Blood for Oil"--you're wrong. It was far, far worse.

[marym625]

Last edited Sun Mar 22, 2015, 04:50 PM - Edit history (2)

Never thought it could be worse. I was wrong.

Greg Palast's Article in full:

How Bush won the war in Iraq - really!

Because it was marked "confidential" on each page, the oil industry stooge couldn't believe the US State Department had given me a complete copy of their secret plans for the oil fields of Iraq. Actually, the State Department had done no such thing. But my line of bullshit had been so well-practiced and the set-up on my mark had so thoroughly established my fake identity, that I almost began to believe my own lies.I closed in. I said I wanted to make sure she and I were working from the same State Department draft. Could she tell me the official name, date and number of pages? She did.

Bingo! I'd just beaten the Military-Petroleum Complex in a lying contest, so I had a right to be stoked.

After phoning numbers from California to Kazakhstanto trick my mark, my next calls were to the State Department and Pentagon. Now that I had the specs on the scheme for Iraq's oil – that State and Defense Department swore, in writing, did not exist – I told them I'd appreciate their handing over a copy (no expurgations, please) or there would be a very embarrassing story on BBC Newsnight.

Within days, our chief of investigations, Ms Badpenny, delivered to my shack  in the woods outside New York a 323-page, three-volume program for Iraq's oil crafted by George Bush's State Department and petroleum insiders meeting secretly in Houston, Texas.

I cracked open the pile of paper – and I was blown away.

Like most lefty journalists, I assumed that George Bush and Tony Blair invaded Iraq to buy up its oil fields, cheap and at gun-point, and cart off the oil. We thought we knew the neo-cons true casus belli: Blood for oil.

But the truth in the confidential Options for Iraqi Oil Industry was worse than "Blood for Oil". Much, much worse.

The key was in the flow chart on page 15, Iraq Oil Regime Timeline & Scenario Analysis:

"...A single state-owned company ...enhances a government's relationship with OPEC."

Let me explain why these words rocked my casbah.

I'd already had in my hands a 101-page document, another State Department secret scheme, first uncovered by Wall Street Journal reporter Neil King, that called for the privatization, the complete sell-off of every single government-owned asset and industry. And in case anyone missed the point, the sales would include every derrick, pipe and barrel of oil, or, as the document put it, "especially the oil".

That plan was created by a gaggle of corporate lobbyists and neo-cons working for the Heritage Foundation. In 2004, the plan's authenticity was confirmed by Washington power player Grover Norquist. (It's hard to erase the ill memory of Grover excitedly waving around his soft little hands as he boasted about turning Iraq into a free-market Disneyland, recreating Chile in Mesopotamia, complete with the Pinochet-style dictatorship necessary to lock up the assets – while behind Norquist, Richard Nixon snarled at me from a gargantuan portrait.)

The neo-con idea was to break up and sell off Iraq's oil fields, ramp up production, flood the world oil market – and thereby smash OPEC and with it, the political dominance of Saudi Arabia.

General Jay Garner also confirmed the plan to grab the oil. Indeed, Garner told me that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld fired him, when the General, who had lived in Iraq, complained the neo-con grab would set off a civil war. It did. Nevertheless, Rumsfeld replaced Garner with a new American viceroy, Paul Bremer, a partner in Henry Kissinger's firm, to complete the corporate takeover of Iraq's assets – "especially the oil".

But that was not to be. While Bremer oversaw the wall-to-wall transfer of Iraqi industries to foreign corporations, he was stopped cold at the edge of the oil fields.

How? I knew there was only one man who could swat away the entire neo-con army: James Baker, former Secretary of State, Bush family consiglieri and most important, counsel to Exxon-Mobil Corporation and the House of Saud.

(One unwitting source was industry oil-trading maven Edward Morse of Lehman/Credit Suisse, who threatened to sue Harper's Magazine for my quoting him. Morse denied I ever spoke with him. But when I played the tape from my hidden recorder, his memory cleared and he scampered away.)

Weirdly, I was uncovering that the US oil industry was using its full political mojo to prevent their being handed ownership of Iraq's oil fields. That's right: The oil companies did NOT want to own the oil fields – and they sure as hell did not want the oil. Just the opposite. They wanted to make sure there would be a limit on the amount of oil that would come out of Iraq.

There was no way in hell that Baker's clients, from Exxon to Abdullah, were going to let a gaggle of neo-con freaks smash up Iraq's oil industry, break OPEC production quotas, flood the market with six million barrels of Iraqi oil a day and thereby knock its price back down to $13 a barrel where it was in 1998.

Big Oil simply could not allow Iraq's oil fields to be privatized and taken from state control. That would make it impossible to keep Iraq within OPEC (an avowed goal of the neo-cons) as the state could no longer limit production in accordance with the cartel's quota system..

The problem with Saddam was not the threat that he'd stop the flow of oil – he was trying to sell more. The price of oil had been boosted 300 percent by sanctions and an embargo cutting Iraq's sales to two million barrels a day from four. With Saddam gone, the only way to keep the damn oil in the ground was to leave it locked up inside the busted state oil company which would remain under OPEC (i.e. Saudi) quotas.

The James Baker Institute quickly and secretly started in on drafting the 323-page plan for the State Department. In May 2003, w ith authority granted from the top (i.e. Dick Cheney), ex-Shell Oil USA CEO Phil Carroll was rushed to Baghdad to take charge of Iraq's oil. He told Bremer, "There will be no privatization of oil – END OF STATEMENT." Carroll then passed off control of Iraq's oil to Bob McKee of Halliburton, Cheney's old oil-services company, who implemented the Baker "enhance OPEC" option anchored in state ownership.

Some oil could be released, mainly to China, through limited, but lucrative, "production sharing agreements".

And that's how George Bush won the war in Iraq. The invasion was not about "blood for oil", but something far more sinister: blood for no oil. War to keep supply tight and send prices skyward.

Oil men, whether James Baker or George Bush or Dick Cheney, are not in the business of producing oil. They are in the business of producing profits.

And they've succeeded. Iraq, capable of producing six to 12 million barrels of oil a day, still exports well under its old OPEC quota of three million barrels.

As George Bush could proudly say to James Baker: Mission Accomplished!


http://www.gregpalast.com/how-bush-won-the-war-in-iraq-really/

Thank you, Mr. Palast


By the way, Greg Palast is offering a free download of the "Bush Family Fortunes" http://www.gregpalast.com/bffdownload/

[madokie]

1. I can see how the war was won

in their little criminal minds that is
Thanks

GP is our friend

[marym625]

2. yep. In their little minds

And their endless greed

Now that Danny Schechter is gone, Greg Palast is about the only one left that actually investigates and reports the truth.

[brush]

34. Seymour Hersh is still around. nt

[marym625]

36. Yes

I'm sorry. I keep accidentally leaving him out. I love him. Thank you

[ND-Dem]

82. I didn't realize he'd died. RIP.

[marym625]

85. yes.

Great article about him.

http://www.gregpalast.com/danny-schechter-1942-2015/

[ND-Dem]

87. thanks.

[marym625]

90. You're welcome.

[RiverLover]

3. And that is why Dubya chose Cheney(Halliburton) as his VP, imo. They planned the Iraq war #2 long

before 9/11. Blood for oil or for no oil, it was about the oil. The profits.

And its why we're involved in endless conflict in the ME since then.

Our troops are dying & killing to ensure oil profits. Its why rethugs want a war with Iran, to get prices back up. Its beyond sad.

Great post marym! Thank you!! People need to know this. If only it would make mainstream news.

[marym625]

4. I really wish the MSM cared about reality

But, alas, they do not.

Wish I could take credit for it if I could work for Greg Palast, I would be living the dream.

Thank you, RiverLover.

[nxylas]

95. And the neocons use that as a point against Palast

You'll sometimes hear them say "If Palast is any good, how come he can only get published in the foreign press? No American media outlet will touch him with a 10-foot pole". That's a damning indictment all right...but not of Palast.

[marym625]

96. BINGO!

Exactly! Thanks!

[nxylas]

101. Disney News (ABC) could have had his stuff for free

His reporting on Florida 2000 was covered under a content-sharing agreement with the BBC that would have allowed them to run his reports free of charge. And yet they didn't. I wish I could say I was surprised.

[marym625]

102. I had forgotten that

Thanks for the reminder

Yeah, MSM hates him. As do all the oligarchs.

[Enthusiast]

99. +1 You nailed it.

[cui bono]

139. +1

[sabrina 1]

174. Yes, that is exactly what they say. The same old tactics are always used when they feel threatened:

Attack the Messenger!

Smear those telling the truth from Greenwald to Snowden, Palast, Danny Schecter (RIP).

By now there is no excuse for the public to fall or any of this anymore.

In fact when the first response is to attack the messenger, the public should become even MORE interested in the message.

[1StrongBlackMan]

16. Yeah...

They planned the Iraq war #2 long before 9/11. Blood for oil or for no oil, it was about the oil. The profits.

And the article subtly place Baker in the operational middle of one long lasting conspiracy theory.

[brush]

38. Baker is the ultimate fixer

He was also dispatched to Florida in 2000 to make sure the Bush was "selected" president.

His fingerprints, working for the Bush crime family, have changed history many times in negative ways.

[Dustlawyer]

40. Within 3 hours of the BP Texas City, Texas plant explosion which killed 15 and injured thousands

on March 23, 2005, emails were sent asking if it would be too transparent if W named James Baker as the head of an INDEPENDANT PANEL to investigate the cause of the explosion. Two months later James Baker was appointed by the President to investigate the cause of the explosion. BP blamed the lowly operators, amazingly so did the Baker Panel's report!

[brush]

42. Thanks for this additional info, Dustlawyer

Wonder how many other dirty doings has Baker been tasked to fix?

[ND-Dem]

92. From a very old & distinguished family line of fixers linked to Texas & oil.

He was born March 3, 1821, and became a prominent lawyer in Huntsville, Texas, as well as a Texas state legislator and judge.

He was removed from his judgeship during Reconstruction by a Republican governor. He subsequently joined the law firm of Gray and Botts, which was renamed Gray, Botts, and Baker during his partnership there, and in 2000 was renamed Baker Botts.[1][2] He died February 24, 1897.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Addison_Baker_the_elder

James Addison Baker, Sr. (aka Captain James A. Baker;[1] January 10, 1857 – August 2, 1941) was an American attorney and banker in Houston, Texas.

Captain Baker was the grandfather of President Ronald Reagan's Chief of Staff, James Addison Baker III.[2] Captain Baker's father was an early partner of the Houston based international law firm, Baker Botts, joining in 1872. Captain Baker became a partner with the firm as well.[3][4]

In Houston, he was the personal attorney and friend of millionaire businessman William Marsh Rice (namesake of Rice University). After Rice was murdered in 1900 by his valet, Charles F. Jones and his New York City attorney, Albert T. Patrick, Baker helped the courts in the conviction of Patrick.[5] Patrick had produced a will that turned out to be a fake with the signature of Rice forged by Patrick. The murder case and litigation over the will, which left a trust fund for the Rice Institute, would take nearly ten years to sort out....After the Wall Street Crash of 1929 he was instrumental in avoiding the collapse of banks that were sweeping the nation...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Baker,_Sr.

James Addison Baker, Jr. (1892–1973) was an American attorney in the firm later renamed Baker Botts.[1]

His father, Judge James Addison Baker, was a well-known Texas attorney - a partner at Gray, Botts & Baker. James Addison Baker, Jr. became a partner after ten years with the firm - at which time the name became Baker, Botts and Baker. Today, the law firm is called Baker Botts, a major United States-based international law firm of around 800 attorneys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Baker,_Jr.

James Addison Baker III (born April 28, 1930) is an American attorney and governmental official.

Baker served as the Chief of Staff in President Ronald Reagan's first administration and in the final year of the administration of President George H. W. Bush. Baker also served as Secretary of the Treasury from 1985 to 1988 in the second Reagan administration, and Secretary of State in the George H. W. Bush administration. He is also the honorary chair of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston, Texas...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baker

[Thespian2]

22. Minor adjustment

Your post is accurate, of course, except that Cheney appointed Cheney to be vice-president. The powers that be told Bush to appoint Cheney head of the search committee for VP. Not surprisingly, the EVIL BASTARD chose himself.

The MSM doesn't really want informed citizens, does it? Fortunately, there are many who know the truth and keep sharing it.

Thanks.

[rhett o rick]

75. Poor George was manipulated by Poppy. Poppy wanted George to be President

but knew he couldn't handle the job as Poppy thought it should be handled. So Poppy convinced George to get the help of Cheney to select the vp. Sounded ok to George. Bingo-Bango and Cheney is the vp. George will probably never figure out how he was manipulated thru his "presidency". I think their should be an (*) by George Bush's name in the list of Presidents with a note stating that Richard "Little Dick" Cheney actually ran the country.

The above is my WAG. I have no links and no sources.

[ND-Dem]

91. but Bush Sr. put cheney in office, per you. so the story has some holes.

[Thespian2]

123. Sounds correct to me.

No sources needed.

[cui bono]

140. Which is why Jeb got passed up. He was too smart and probably thought for himself.

Now remember, "too smart" is relative.

[rhett o rick]

141. I think you have a point. George was so much easier to manipulate. nm

[alfredo]

100. Bush put Cheney in charge of vetting a VP pick. Cheney picked himself.

[newthinking]

105. It is also the subtext of our interest in Ukraine (Russian Oil) - Victoria Nuland is a neo-con

She is the wife of Robert Kagen, one of the authors of PNAC, which was where the Bush admin planned all of these conflicts.

Many people have still not put the Pieces together. Why did we recently declare Venezuela a "Grave" threat to our "National Security" and start sanctions?


From Wikipedia

In 2008, Kagan wrote an article titled "Neocon Nation: Neoconservatism, c. 1776" for World Affairs, describing the main components of American neoconservatism as a belief in the rectitude of applying US moralism to the world stage, support for the US to act alone, the promotion of American-style liberty and democracy in other countries, the belief in American world dominance, the confidence in US military power, and a distrust of international institutions.[20] Kagan describes his foreign-policy views as "deeply rooted in American history and widely shared by Americans".[21]

In 2006, Kagan wrote that Russia and China are the greatest "challenge liberalism faces today": "Nor do Russia and China welcome the liberal West's efforts to promote liberal politics around the globe, least of all in regions of strategic importance to them. ... Unfortunately, al-Qaeda may not be the only challenge liberalism faces today, or even the greatest."[22]

[Mnemosyne]

157. Darth actually choose himself to be VP. He headed the 'committee' to choose and

decided, golly gee surprise - he was the best candidate. It's late or I'd do a search on it, maybe tomorrow.

[RiverLover]

167. I actually believe something that would be deemed "conspiracy theory" on this.

I believe without any proof whatsoever that no matter who had won the rethug nom for president, Dick Cheney would have been the VP. And the Iraq War redux would have happened. No matter if it was Bush or had been any other President(R).

Maybe they are even the actual cause of Gore losing. (Going out on a limb here, I know).

I believe in that infamous, secret, & incredibly powerful cabal that is pulling the strings behind the scenes. Allegedly.

I'm also worried about a war with Iran being planned by them as we speak...type.

But its all probably just my imagination & has no bearing on reality. I did read all of Robert Ludlum's books as a teen & YA.

[chervilant]

5. Ah, yes...

The corporate megalomaniacs--who've usurped our politics, our media, AND our global economy--are leaving a trail of dirty, bloody fingerprints all over ANY initiative designed to secure their hegemony.


And the Hoi Polloi is awakening.

[marym625]

6. You think so?

That they're awakening? I don't think they are. I wish it were so. But I doubt any of this will be seen in any MSM. Since the average Hoi Polloi only pay attention to MSM, they probably will never know. Worse, even if they did, they probably wouldn't care.

[chervilant]

30. Yes, I think so.

I just spent a week with a friend I've known for 35 years, since we were kids. Her daughter, now the ripe old age of 14 and 1/2 (she was clear about this additional 1/2 year...), discussed her views on the state of our union. She is well informed. She has multiple friends who are also well informed. They don't bother with the MSM; they use the internet. They are exploring initiatives to "save" our democracy. Their group is one of many among our younglings. This gives me hope, even as I recognize that their success is unlikely, since money (and the corporate megalomaniacs who control money) makes the major decisions on this planet.

[marym625]

31. That is encouraging

Thanks. My bff of 35 years has a 14 1/2 yo daughter also. She talks about boys, volleyball and other girls who don't do this or that right. But she's a very young 14. I think it will change soon

[loudsue]

7. And why the saudis were allowed to conspire the 9/11 bombings.

With full agreement from the bush cartel, using the entire force and finance of the American taxpayers.

[marym625]

9. I know we're not supposed to go into conspiracy theories

But, yeah. Exactly

[Demeter]

14. I am beginning to suspect that there are only Conspiracy Facts

as too many putative "theories", dismissed as delusions by the M$M and the criminal classes of Corporate and Political Hacks, have been proven to be absolutely true in the fullness of time.

As for example, this one you posted.

[marym625]

17. It's beyond disgusting

So very many people died for this. It makes perfect sense too. Twisted, evil sense but sense. I realize that is an oxymoron but I don't know what other word to use.

It also causes an even bigger argument against HC. No way she wasn't aware, like every other person in power that voted for the war when we all knew their reasons were complete bullshit. Outright lies.

[Demeter]

18. the phrase you are groping for is "internally consistent"

which can usually be coupled with "batshit crazy" or "unmitigated evil" or both.

[marym625]

19. Perfect

Thank you!

[Demeter]

20. you are welcome!

[brush]

39. HOLY SH_T

Thanks to this OP that doesn't sound so farfetched now.

[valerief]

93. +1

[gregcrawford]

8. The enormity of conservative evil has no boundaries

[marym625]

10. How people can't see that is beyond me.

Or see how incredibly bad it is to back "Democrats" that back the oligarchs

[mopinko]

11. hallibuton wanted the contract to rebuild the oil industry infrastructure there.

read confessions of an economic hit man.
these big assed construction contracts are what bechtel and halliburton are all about. if they cant get them on the up and up, or with bribes, they send in "the jackals". our jackals.

[marym625]

13. Read it

It should be required reading for everyone in the US.

Thanks for the reminder!

[pangaia]

21. So should SHOCK DOCTRINE.

[marym625]

23. That one is new to me

Thanks. I will check it out!

[rhett o rick]

150. I found it very difficult to read. Not because of the writing but because of the content.

Some times the truth is a difficult pill to swallow.

[marym625]

151. oh, that good?

Or bad?

Sounds like a must read.

[rhett o rick]

153. It's an excellent book that you may wish you never read. Just sayin'. nm

[marym625]

154. Then I have to read it. Thank you. eom

[mountain grammy]

47. Yes, that book should be in every home in America.

The "Shock Doctrine" is more important than the Bible.. For one, it's not fiction.

[alfredo]

48. "Imperial Life in the Emerald City" is invaluable to understand neocon incompetence.

Bremer is a douchebag supreme.

http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Life-The-Emerald-City/dp/0307278832

You can buy it cheap if you buy used.

[marym625]

53. Thank you

I will check it out

[alfredo]

97. It's really a good read. Kids right out of Liberty University were given jobs based on

political purity, not expertise.

De Baathification destroyed any chance to rebuild Iraq.

[ND-Dem]

84. separated at birth...

[marym625]

89. Haha!

And by a few years

[whathehell]

103. Kerry has a better hairline.

[Demeter]

12. Then Big Oil must be really pissed off about recent events. Thanks, marym625

for bringing this to our attention.

[marym625]

15. Thank you

Greg Palast is someone to watch. I actually went looking for one of his many investigative pieces on Fukushima this morning. Then found this.

[asiliveandbreathe]

24. Thanks for the article marym625

As we start to ramp up voter registration and much debate surrounding the Democratic primary, and I do hope we have many who will jump in - the debate should be interesting..and yes, a debate is necessary - we should never forget Iraq - and this just adds fuel to the fire...NO MORE EFFIN' WAR - and I want to hear it from the DEMOCRATIC nominee - many the best man or woman WIN!

Of course there are many more issues..but right no - this is weighing heavy on my mind....tks again..

[marym625]

26. No more f'n war!

Amen to that!

Thank you. I hope we have a real primary as well. It was bad enough when the conventions started to be meaningless. But to have a primary be meaningless? That's giving up and giving in as much as not voting is.

[brush]

25. Thanks so much for posting this

The neo-cons are shown to be rank bumblers vs the real power brokers, James Baker and the old hand oil barons.

It puts the Iraq debacle in a whole new light. Cheney, Bush, Baker and all the rest didn't care for the neo-cons plan to flood the market with oil and break Saudi dominance. They cared even less for all the lives that were to be lost making sure the oil stayed in the ground which thereby set the table for the price to go sky high.

Now I get why Cheney keeps coming out saying we won in Iraq and Obama is blowing all the progress his administration made. Cheney/Bush got the price of oil to over $100 a barrel and now, in Cheney's craven eyes, it's half that and it's all Obama's fault.

[marym625]

28. Bingo!

It's despicable.

Thank you

[malaise]

27. Neo-cons and neo-liberals have the same agenda

slaughter, loot and plunder and force every country into debt.
Study the fight between Keynes and the Americans at Bretton Woods.

[marym625]

29. absolutely

Wish people would open their eyes.

Thank you!

[GoneFishin]

32. That explains how "insurgents" blowing up pipelines in Iraq is actually a two-fer for the oil

industry and the defense industry. The oil production is diminished, plus the increased violence is another excuse to sustain troop levels to consume more weaponry which needs to be replaced at taxpayer's expense.

[marym625]

33. Great point!

Thanks!

[leveymg]

35. Precisely what they've done in Libya, Iran, and Venezuela. It's all about cartel supply

control and long-term price fixing. When they've driven their competitors out of business, they'll swoop in and buy at the bottom, and prices will rise again.

[marym625]

37. +1

Thank you

[KingCharlemagne]

41. An interesting theory. If one assumes that the Bush\Cheney Junta knew

there were no WMDs or ties to Al Q'aeda when it trumpeted those as its casus belli, the question remains: "Why did we really invade and occupy Iraq?" IOW, what were our real motives?

Norman Mailer put forth an interesting theory that may dovetail nicely with Palast's. To wit, Mailer said we invaded Iraq not to 'get' the oil so much as to control the spigot, in order to gain strategic dominance over the emerging economies of India and China. Mailer never sourced his argument, making it mostly from inference, IIRC. And it's been a couple re-installs of Windows 7 since I read it, so I've lost the bookmark that had Mailer's argument.

Mailer only hints at that motive here (reprint of an earlier piece by him in the NY Review of Books), where he eviscerates Bush:

Be it said: the motives that lead to a nation's major historical acts can probably rise no higher than the spiritual understanding of its leadership. While George W. may not know as much as he believes he knows about the dispositions of God's blessing, he is driving us at high speed all the same-this man at the wheel whose most legitimate boast might be that he knew how to parlay the part-ownership of a major-league baseball team into a gubernatorial win in Texas. And-shall we ever forget?-was catapulted, by legal finesse and finagling, into a now-tainted but still almighty hymn: Hail to the Chief!

No, we will rise no higher than the spiritual understanding of our leadership. And now that the ardor of victory has begun to cool, some will see how it is flawed. For we are victim once again of all those advertising sciences that depend on mendacity and manipulation. We have been gulled about the real reasons for this war, tweaked and poked by some of the best button-pushers around to believe that we won a noble and necessary contest when, in fact, the opponent was a hollowed-out palooka whose monstrosities were ebbing into old age.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2007/11/10/white-man-unburdened

[marym625]

44. Thank you

We know he knew there were no WMD.

I missed the Mailer piece. Thank you.

[fredamae]

43. Thank you Mr Palast

"New Documents Show Bush Administration Planned War In Iraq Well Before 9/11/2001"
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/new-documents-show-bush-administration-plan

Declassified Memo
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB326/doc08.pdf

[marym625]

45. Thanks for the info! n/t

[marym625]

46. I believe we knew this

I remember talking with my brother about the inevitable war with Iraq and Iran once bush was appointed president by SCOTUS. But I have no recollection of why we thought that. I know if we were saying it, so were many others.

But I didn't know about the documents you linked to. Thank you

[fredamae]

59. I remember the day

bush announced his run for POTUS...I turned to hubby and said: "The first thing he'll do is take us to war".
I will Never forget that day...I too, have no recollection Why I thought that...but I did. I barely paid attention to politics back in those days outside of "water cooler" discussion at work.

[marym625]

67. I did pay close attention

I will have to ask my brother. It's bothering me I don't recall why we knew this

[fredamae]

68. Maybe your brother

can help us both

[marym625]

69. I will let you know!

[fredamae]

70. Sounds like a deal! n/t

[mountain grammy]

49. As I read this, I thought, only Greg Palast would write this..

and sure enough. He's quite correct, I believe. Murdering hundreds of thousands of human beings for greed. ISIS does it for religion. Really, what's the fucking difference. They're all still dead.

[marym625]

54. +1000

[2naSalit]

80. Actually...

if you dig a little deeper you might find that the idea that the newest model of terrorist is still based on religion. These people use religion like some here use "Old Glory"... they wrap themselves up in it as an identity sort of thing - because it works as a fear tactic in this particular game -but it's more akin to a wolf in sheep's clothing. Islam is not a violent religion any more than are most other Abrahmaic religions, but it sure convinces people that they have something to fear, religious pseudo-identity of a religion not well understood by the target audience, has been very successful to date so why not have a new version to up the volume and do away with the stale model we're so tired of.

I don't agree ISIS does it for religion, I think they are something entirely different than how they have been interpreted by for us by corporate info mills. Which begs the question, So where did all those taxpayer funded mercenaries military contractors that flooded the region go after we won the war? I think the guys may have discovered that burkas can be useful, full coverage of one's face can hide one's real identity.

[mountain grammy]

116. I get what you're saying but I think in the case of ISIS

they are basing their actions on their extreme interpretation of their religion. Their goal may be murder and mayhem, but religion, right or wrong, is the excuse. The most used and convenient excuse of all.

[Caretha]

122. You are correct

look to see who has their hand up the burka costumes that operates the puppets.

Basically it all leads back to the same ol' same ol' puppet masters.

[valerief]

94. US soldiers are nurtured with football in their youth to create the machismo

needed to want to "fight the terrrrrrrsts." Replace our violent sports and you'll eliminate future generations of soldiers who die for billionaires.

[uponit7771]

173. +1

[KansDem]

50. I wonder if this is explained in the redacted 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission report?

The Saudis had a vested interest in keeping Saddam's oil in the ground under their control.

Score one for Mr. Palast!

[marym625]

55. Good question

Don't know what we would do without Greg Palast.

[LiberalEsto]

51. All in the name of the Profit

Wouldn't that make a great book title?

[marym625]

56. I like it! eom

[Baitball Blogger]

52. It's too early in the morning.

How did we get from Grover Norquist's "free Iraq oil to flood the market and lower the oil prices" to Cheney-Bush and Baker's plan to destabilize Iraq enough to keep the oil in the ground and keep the price up?

You would be hearing major cries of betrayal from Norquist if this were true.

[marym625]

58. If this were true?

Couple things. One, he's got the documents. Two, Norquist is a shill. He'll do as he's told.

[heaven05]

57. thank you

you are on the case!!!! Bookmarked for later reading, K&R and palast bookmarked.

[marym625]

62. Thank you, Heaven

Always an honor to see you!

[steve2470]

60. Thank you Mary, excellent article! nt

[marym625]

63. Thanks Steve!

Wish I could take credit for it

[CaptainTruth]

61. And if you don't understand the role of the PNAC in orchestrating it all ...

... you only know half the picture.

Project for the New American Century. Wrote to Clinton twice urging Iraq invasion. Wrote to Netanyahu urging Iraq invasion, said if Israel invaded, US would join the war. Shared invasion plans with Israel, coordinated handling of oil assets, wrote of the need for "some catastrophic catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor" for the US to invade Iraq alone, all BEFORE Bush became president. Then 13 PNAC members filled the Bush administration, along with a few patsies, like Colin Powell, who could be sent in front of the world to tell their biggest lies for them.

They wanted to "transform the Middle East" by invading Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, & Syria. They've taken down their web site (it had far too much embarrassing & incriminating evidence) but the people are still around & as far as they're concerned their Middle East transformation project is only half done. And Jeb Bush wants to put this neocon cabal back together. That should scare the hell out of every sane American.

Take a look at the PNAC members lists, if you follow politics & paid attention to the GW Bush cabal you'll recognize a lot of names.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_the_New_American_Century

[marym625]

65. Thanks for this

Sounds so very familiar. I will have to do some research on it. Been a while

[hootinholler]

64. Always nice to have suspicions confirmed n/t

[marym625]

66. True. wish just once that it wouldn't

Be as awful as assumed

[fadedrose]

71. It gives me a different perspective on Iran

The sanctions are not to keep Iran from getting too wealthy from oil sales, they are ensuring that the market is not flooded with more oil, bringing down the cost per barrel. Maybe that's why we've had sanctions to begin with.

That's why the world wants an agreement with Iran? And why Saudi Arabia fears our agreement with Iran? Their oil would be less valuable with Iran's producing more and more. And Iran must have other ways of making money besides more production of oil?

So much chicanery. And then there's climate change, the earth warming, etc., nobody could figure it out except for those causing it, and the reason is their unchallenged desire for wealth....

Haven't read the link above yet, but all I think about after reading the OP, and it is Iran, not Iraq... And when I think of Iraq, I think of Humpty-Dumpty.

[marym625]

73. The link is to the article and Greg Palast's website

He has so much more that will solidify your fears. What has been happening for decades is disgusting. And the more time goes on, the more proof he gets.

[Dont call me Shirley]

72. Why do the 99% continue to allow monstrously insane people to rule our world?

Thanks for posting, marym.

[marym625]

74. Because many don't know

Many don't care. But mostly because the 1% control us.

Knowledge is power so they keep the knowledge away.

[Dont call me Shirley]

160. And because we have so much propaganda shoved down our throats. People become arrogantly

ignorant within their intentionally misled delusions.

In order to awaken people out of this by-design-mass-delusion it will take a mass shift of awareness.

[marym625]

161. and for that to happen

We have to get someone with real money to start a real news station that people will watch. I don't even know if that would work.

Look at how much fox has been called out, how many times they have been caught in lies. Even being labeled as entertainment so as to escape responsibility for their lies. And yet, people, millions of people, watch and buy into everything they say.

America was intentionally dumbed down. And now we're paying the price

[Dont call me Shirley]

165. +1

[Gregorian]

76. All of those injured children, frightened people, displaced families, depleted uranium pollution,

billions of gallons of fuel used to invade. And it was a crushing blow to America's economy.

We talked about how that invasion was to keep the oil in the ground, but now we have proof. Now not only does the first invasion match up with the second one, but also the sanctions, as well as 9/11.

So I imagine fracking is also part of this scheme.

[marym625]

78. I hope people can see the links

Connect the dots. We HAVE to have a different candidate

[Damansarajaya]

77. Of course. It all makes sense now.

This is 100 times more believable than "the final proof, the smoking gun, of a mushroom cloud over an American city."

[marym625]

79. considering how quickly we invaded

Iraq as opposed to Afghanistan, yep.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

81. The same fate is being contemplated for Iran

The same players do not want the Oil flowing freely from Iran.

http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=ir

"Iran holds the world's fourth-largest proved crude oil reserves and the world's second-largest natural gas reserves. Despite the country's abundant reserves, Iran's oil production has substantially declined over the past few years, and natural gas production growth has slowed. International sanctions have profoundly affected Iran's energy sector. Sanctions have prompted a number of cancellations or delays of upstream projects, resulting in declining oil production capacity."

What would happen if they went into full production? Who would not like that?

[marym625]

86. exactly

Hence all the right wing love for Hillary

[hopemountain]

98. and venezuela. nt

[Caretha]

124. Oh maybe

the PM of Israel, the Saudis and the neo-cons in the US? They might even just hate the thought of a nuclear treaty with Iran...who knows? I'm guessing some nasty types that have had their hands in international wars since at least WWII.

[hunter]

83. Meh. It's much more simple than that.

The direct link between the U.S. dollar and the international oil trade is sacred and must be maintained at all costs.

If a nation starts selling oil in it's own currency, or the currency of a nation the U.S. feels threatened by, then the dogs of the U.S.A. banking industry and military industrial complex are set loose upon the offenders.

Everything else is a bloody soap opera. The Bush Administration and the Heritage Foundation were merely puppets in the ongoing drama, an international drama that began in the early twentieth century.

This is interesting research, but ultimately it's more smoke and mirrors.

[marym625]

88. How is it smoke and mirrors?

I don't disagree with you on the basic premise. However, the documents proving it and linking to the US officials and oligarchs is pretty important.

[questionseverything]

170. it is good reporting and yes it shows how evil bushco was/is but

the real reason for the invasion of iraq was

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998512,00.html


Foreign Exchange: Saddam Turns His Back on Greenbacks
By William Dowell/New York City Monday, Nov. 13, 2000
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Europe's dream of promoting the euro as a competitor to the U.S. dollar may get a boost from SADDAM HUSSEIN. Iraq says that from now on, it wants payments for its oil in euros, despite the fact that the battered European currency unit, which used to be worth quite a bit more than $1, has dropped to about 82[cents]. Iraq says it will no longer accept dollars for oil because it does not want to deal "in the currency of the enemy."

[marym625]

171. seems to be all related

I had forgotten about this. I used to trade currencies. Was amazing to watch it flip. All the contacts written in a flat exchange rate had to be overhauled and renegotiated

Thanks for the link and information. I think both things are equally as important

[questionseverything]

172. definitely related but nothing is more important to the 1% than

collecting the interest on the fed's loaned dollars,if the oil markets didn't use the fed's dollars their influence globally would collapse......it gives them control over everything and everyone

[Caretha]

125. Yes

big big ...if not the biggest piece of the puzzle.

[questionseverything]

129. like in 1913?

people dont understand that the only export really cared about is ..us dollars

[Caretha]

166. Yes

look at the big picture. We have a tendency to think in decades or less. TPTB, TPTPSHB, tend to think in much longer epochs.

Mostly they think in generations. That is really how short our collective memories are.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

104. "...was not the threat that he'd stop the flow of oil – he was trying to sell more."

I knew this VERY early on.

[marym625]

109. Alright Spitfire!

Truly.

I am going back reading old stuff, emails I sent to different people on Air America radio back in the day, old articles. I am trying to remind myself of what we knew and when.

I was on the Randi Rhodes show telling her that Rumsfeld admitted they shot down the plane on 9/11 in a press conference. She didn't know. I sent her a link. She played it over and over and over. Was fun!

I think through time, bad press, outright lies, we have forgotten some of what we once knew. It's important we retrace everything now. So very important!

Thank you for sharing this classic piece! And now you have absolute proof you were correct.

[Caretha]

126. Have you figured out why

they shot down the plane? Or did they really?

[marym625]

127. absolutely no doubt they shot down the plane.

I knew it within a few days. Some of the pilots spoke to friends. And then Rumsfeld said it at a press conference. He took it back later but it was too late.

Why they shot it down? Frankly, as sad and horrible as it is, and who knows what would have happened if they hadn't since it was the only flight where people fought back, I don't think they had a choice.

Actually, the first witnesses talked about the explosion before it went down

[marym625]

128. Here's a couple of slips

Cheney admits Flight 93 was shot down by his orde…:

Rumsfeld slips up and admits flight 93 shot down:

[Hekate]

106. Kick and Retch

[marym625]

110. Ha!

Crack me up! Thanks

[joeybee12]

107. I don't know if this is true, but it rings true, if you know what I mean...

It makes sense they would do something like this, and yes, the oil really isn't flowing freely from Iraq, and hundreds of thousands are dead...I wish I believed in hell.

[marym625]

111. makes perfect sense

And there are documents proving it.

Check out post 144 by Spitfire

[Rex]

108. Oh it was just the BFEE pranking everyone! Tee-hee giggles!

[marym625]

112. hahaha

Of course! What the hell was I thinking?

[Rex]

120. You silly billy! Here at DU, we just tee-hee giggles about the BFEE and PNAC!

It's just one Rush size prank or stunt if you will! Series, that is what the DU experts all say. "Oh the BFEE...tee hee giggles..."

You got to respect someone that can laugh at something like that! Respect or back away slowly.

They also do it with the Third Way, "silly pony, there is no such thing as the Third Way...now vote the way I demand you to."


Of course they've gone to that well so often, that MOST of us think this of their weaksauce...

[marym625]

121. Yeah

I don't even "hear" it anymore. I vote liberal, progressive and I want a candidate that reflects democratic values. Fuck anything else.

It'll be a cold day in hell I utter these words for any reason but to sing the song:

I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do, so I'll leave it up to you!

Ten Years After - I'd Love To Change The World (l…:

All the third wayers can kiss my ass.

[BrotherIvan]

113. I hope he sending this information to an international body that might be willing to prosecute

IMHO this is perfect evidence for a trial in the Hague (as if there is not enough). I think they should approach it the way they did dismantling the mob: go after the weakest link. I think that's Tony Blair who would sing like a canary, though he doesn't know how deep the rabbit hole goes. But he would be a start. I'm sure they could prosecute these fuckers even under RICO just for the conspiracy. There is so much evil, so much evil that these people have perpetrated I cannot even fathom. The fact that the prodigal son is running this term shows you how horrible the situation is. This crime syndicate family needs to be stopped.

[marym625]

114. Nothing will happen to these bastards

I am watching the download at the bottom of the OP. Nothing I didn't already know but much I had forgotten. I'm getting madder and madder. And I am just as angry at Gore for not fighting.

The world is fucked because of these people

[blkmusclmachine]

115. Any connection to this?

[marym625]

117. yes. It was all about profit from controlling the oil.

Yes.

I don't know if you are implying that 9/11 was about the oil or the illegal invasion of Iraq was. But the invasion of Iraq was all about controlling the oil.

[marym625]

118. Watch the download at the end of the OP.

If not directly; certainly indirectly.

Bastards.

[samsingh]

119. this is worth reading

[marym625]

130. The download at the bottom of the OP

Is worth watching too. It isn't new stuff but it is worth the viewing

[samsingh]

143. thx

[Scootaloo]

131. It's rare for me to feel creeping horror from reading stuff like this... but this did it

So the question is... what is to be done?

[marym625]

132. I wish I knew

I truly wish I knew. We allowed too much to happen for too long. Now, I just don't know.

[Scootaloo]

133. I can tell you one thing...

Returning the architects to office isn't going to do it.

[marym625]

134. THAT is number one

I wish everyone could see that!

[Major Hogwash]

135. Makes sense to me.

Especially after so many years, and yet, the level of oil production in Iraq hasn't increased.
Nice little scheme they have going on here.

[marym625]

137. ain't it though?

Despicable people. All of them.

[Major Hogwash]

142. I remember Rumsfeld telling Congress, under oath, that the war would pay for itself.

He said that the cost of reconstruction for all of the damage we caused in Iraq would be recovered once the oil started flowing again.

I wonder if he can be charged with lying to Congress?

Naw, what the hell was I thinking!!
Nobody's ever going to be charged for starting the Iraq War!!!

[marym625]

144. nope

And it's so very wrong!

[WillyT]

136. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[marym625]

138. Thank you, my friend!

[BeanMusical]

145. Thank you, great post.

[marym625]

146. Thank you

The Greg Palast link in the OP allows for a free download if you're interested.

[Wella]

147. Interesting read. James Baker is back advising Jeb for 2016

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/18/jeb-bush-man-surrounds-brothers-team.html

[marym625]

148. OMFD!

Aren't they dead yet? I swear these were Nixon people!

[Wella]

149. These guys go way back

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baker

[marym625]

152. sigh

Just sigh.

[Wella]

155. I know.

No matter what face is in the White House, it's the same old cabal.

[marym625]

156. yep.

And Hillary is either already using or is cow towing to them. Sad state of affairs

[Wella]

158. Do you remember when Hillary made Tucker Carlson a shoe cake?

This clip doesn't have the entire scene, but Hillary basically says that Americans don't realize that, even though they look like enemies, they are all friends behind the scenes. I wish I could find the whole thing, but Hillary unwittingly let the cat out of the bag.

[marym625]

159. No, I didn't know this

Thanks for sharing. Too bad it doesn't have the full exchange. Important stuff.

Thanks again!

[Wella]

169. I've been looking for the full clip but have been unsuccessful

I'll keep looking.

[Orsino]

162. "Far, far worse"?

The semantic difference between "blood for oil" and "blood for oil money" doesn't strike me as significant.

[marym625]

163. It's blood to control profits

And keep the middle east under our thumb.

Greg Palast's words. I agree with him.

[Orsino]

164. I think we already knew it was profit-driven.

Since Smedley Butler, if not before.

I'm just not seeing what's far, far worse.

[burrowowl]

168. K&R

[BainsBane]

175. Wow

I guess the straight-forward US grab of natural resources is a relic of the Cold War. If the goal was to screw up Iraq, they sure succeeded. And now we have ISIS. Thanks, James Baker. What a guy.

[marym625]

176. ain't he though.

Sadly, his aging out of existence won't make it end. Money is what this group wants and all they care about, regardless of age.