Republican Con of the Week: Bush Misleads on Iraq, Doesn't Mention Oil

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_12_26_george_w._bush_says_the_iraq_war_is_for_security_of_all.asp

In a radio address broadcast on Dec. 25, 2004, George W. Bush said:

During the holidays, we also keep in our thoughts and prayers the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially those far from home, separated from family and friends by the call of duty. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, these skilled and courageous Americans are fighting the enemies of freedom and protecting our country from danger. By bringing liberty to the oppressed, our troops are helping to win the war on terror, and they are defending the freedom and security of us all.

Is the purpose of the Iraq War to bring "liberty to the oppressed," or is Bush trying to con us?

From the Inter Press Service via Common Dreams ("US to Take Bigger Bite of Iraq's Economic Pie:Helping' Govt Cut Social Subsidies, Give US Corporations Full Access to Iraqi Oil" by Emad Mekay,:Dec. 24, 2004):

The United States is helping the interim Iraqi government continue to make major economic changes, including cuts to social subsidies, full access for U.S. companies to the nation's oil reserves and reconsideration of oil deals that the previous regime signed with France and Russia.

During a visit here this week, officials of the U.S.-backed administration detailed some of the economic moves planned for Iraq, many of them appearing to give U.S. corporations greater reach into the occupied nation's economy.

For example, the current leadership is looking at privatizing the Iraqi National Oil Company, said Finance Minister Adil Abdel Mahdi.

The government, which is supposed to be replaced after elections scheduled for January, will also pass a new law that will further open Iraq's huge oil reserves to foreign companies. U.S. firms are expected to gain the lion's share of access in a process estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the horrible destruction of Iraq, and the hatred it must inspire, means we're becoming less safe on account of the Iraq War.

Journalist Naomi Klein writes that the presence of US troops makes Iraq less stable, by inspiring insurgents to fight against both Americans and Iraqis in security. She also writes that that Paul Bremer's massive layoffs of Iraqis from state agencies is a major cause of the instability in Iraq today.

For excerpts from three important recent articles on Iraq, click below to go to MoveLeft.com:

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_12_26_george_w._bush_says_the_iraq_war_is_for_security_of_all.asp

It was always about the oil....and profits.

the oil profits it gets from the Iraq War, in the long run.

kick

kick

Bush has put the "con" in conservative.

Republican Con of the Week: GEORGE W. BUSH Pretends Paul Bremer Deserves a Medal

Paul Bremer, who had been in Iraq as the administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority, doesn't deserve a medal.

Paul Bremer probably couldn't have done worse in Iraq if he tried.

While previous administrator Jay Ganer wanted to hold early elections to empower Iraqi, Paul Bremer wanted to privatize everything so US corporations could take over Iraqi assets.

The following is by John B. Judis, in a June 23, 2004 article, guest-blogging in Joshua Micah Marshall's "Talking Points Memo:"

Bremer arrived in Baghdad in May after the Pentagon fired General Jay Garner. According to Garner, the Pentagon objected to his plan to hold early elections before Iraq's economy had been privatized. Bremer's mandate was, above all, to privatize. In June, as Bremer returned to Baghdad aboard a U.S. military transport plane after speaking at an international economic conference, he discussed his plans for Iraq with Washington Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran. According to Chandrasekaran, Bremer spoke of privatization "with such fervor that his voice cut through the din of the cargo hold." "We have to move forward quickly with this effort," he said.

Bremer's economic program wasn't confined to selling off state enterprises. Bremer saw privatization as part of the broader conservative economic agenda that Reagan had endorsed in the 1980s. It would include supply-side tax cuts and elimination of import duties. And he proceeded to get his way. In September 2003--against the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention that require occupying powers to respect existing laws--Bremer got the Iraqi Governing Council to issue an order privatizing state companies and abrogating Iraqi laws that prohibited private ownership of "national" resources and the "basic means of production." Later, he also got his way on taxes and import duties.

More at:

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_12_19_republican_con_of_the_week__george_w_bush_gives_medal_to_paul_bremer.asp

persuading many people to believe simplistic lies.

"The government, which is supposed to be replaced after elections scheduled for January, will also pass a new law..."

That must be some democracy they're setting up over there when we already know that a new law will be passed (to help U.S. companies!) even before elections are held and the new government is seated. Now somebody will have to convince me that this is not going to be just a stupid gummit of puppets carrying out Bushco edicts.

And how generous it was of U.S. taxpayers to forgive billions in debt so that now (private) U.S. corporations can step in and engorge themselves on the oil profits. U.S. taxpayers are such nice guys!

after the war started and that lemming couple from MN came up with that insulting yardpost sign (which * obviously noticed because it was around then th at we had to ooooooooooooooooh, liberate those oppressed people.)

* never had a plan, apart from personal revenge and oil.