DivaSkyChick 0 #1 February 13, 2003 A friend of mine sent me this from an Australian news source - it's abridge, as the original is 19 pages. I believe the source is at the bottom of the page. Interesting to see what other countries think about all this. THE REAL REASONS FOR THE UPCOMING WAR IN IRAQ Although completely suppressed in the U.S. media, the answer to the Iraq enigma is simple yet shocking - it's an oil currency war. The real reason for this upcoming war is the Bush administration's goal of preventing further OPEC members moving to the 'Euro' as an oil transaction currency standard. The dreadful events of 9/11 delivered (like a godsend) to the Bush Administration, the wonderfully perfect and timely excuse for hunting down OPEC and it's move towards the euro. Under the guise of "rooting out all terrorist organisations and weapons of mass destruction", Bush hopes to keep the US dollar the dominant world currency -and, as a neat by-product, boost the flagging US global military/industrial machine. In order to pre-empt OPEC, the US needs to gain strategic control of Iraq's oil reserves (2nd largest in the world). As the US prepares for war with Iraq, the US seems unable to answer even the most basic questions about this war. If Iraq's "Weapons of Mass Destruction" program truly possessed the threat that Bush has repeatedly purported, why is there no international coalition to militarily disarm Saddam? Secondly, despite over 300 unfettered UN inspections to date, there has been no evidence reported of a reconstituted Iraqi WMD program. Third, (and despite Bush's rhetoric), the CIA has not found any links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. In fact, Saddam and Bin Laden are mortal enemies.] Moreover, North Korea is processing uranium in order to produce nuclear weapons this year, yet Bush has not provided a rational answer as to why Saddam's seemingly dormant WMD program is a more imminent threat than North Korea's active program? The core driving force for toppling Saddam is actually the euro currency! The US Federal Reserve's greatest nightmare is that OPEC will switch its international transactions from a dollar standard to a euro standard. Iraq actually made this switch in November 2000 when the euro was worth around 80 cents. It was this move that sealed Saddam's fate, -and another manufactured Gulf War become inevitable under Bush II. The Bush administration and the corporate/military/ industrial conglomerate needs a puppet government in Iraq - so that Iraq will revert back to a dollar standard and stay that way. (While also hoping to veto any wider OPEC momentum towards the euro, especially from Iran who is actively discussing a switch to euros for its oil exports). This information about Iraq's oil currency is censored by the US media as well as the Bush administration & Federal Reserve, as the truth could potentially curtail both investor and consumer confidence. This quasi "state secret" can be found on a Radio Free Europe article discussing Saddam's switch for his oil sales from dollars to the euros on November 6, 2000. The United States dominates other countries through its currency, noting that given the superiority of the dollar against most other hard currencies, the US monopolizes global trade. After toppling Saddam, the US may decide that Iran is the next target in the "war on terror." Iran's interest in switching to the euro as their standard transaction currency for oil exports is well documented. Even more alarming, and completely unreported in the US media, are some monetary shifts in the reserve funds of foreign governments away from the dollar towards the euro (China, Venezuela, some OPEC producers, and last week Russia flushed some of their dollars for euros). The American people are largely oblivious to the economic risks regarding Bush's upcoming war. Not only is Japan's economy at grave risk from a spike in oil prices, but additional risks relate to Iran and Venezuela as well, either of whom could move to the euros, thus providing further momentum for OPEC to switch to the euro as the fiat currency for oil. The Bush administration believes that by toppling Saddam they will remove the juggernaut, thus allowing the US to control Iraq's huge oil reserves, and finally break up and dissolve the 10 remaining countries in OPEC. Regardless of whatever Dr. Blix finds or doesn't find in Iraq regarding WMD, it appears that President Bush is determined to pursue his "pre-emptive" war to secure a large portion of the earth's remaining oil reserves, and then use Iraq's underutilized oil to destroy the OPEC cartel. Will this gamble work? Undeniably may nations may suffer not only from economic retribution, but also from increased Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorism. Will we stand idle and watch CNN, as our governments become international pariahs by discarding International Law, as it wages a unilateral war in Iraq? Is it morally defensible to deploy brave but naive young soldiers around the globe to enforce US dollar hegemony for global oil transactions? Will we allow imperialist conquest in the Middle East to feed the West's excessive energy consumption, while ignoring the duplicitous overthrowing of a democratically elected government in Latin America? Shall we accept the grave price of an unjust war over the currency of oil that will only benefit the US? Remaining silent is not an option. Make a small difference. Forward this to all you know. by W. Clark (abridged) www.indymedia.org:8081 --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #2 February 13, 2003 oh boy...sounds like one of those guys who stands around swirling his drink at parties and boring the hell out of the other guests for 45 minutes at a stretch.I'm not impressed. The USA has not expressed overt concern about the Euro, I don't see why they would suddenly start. I'm no economist, but I say, who cares, currency goes up & down, if your currency is de-valued compared to other countries, well, that just ncourages the other countries to import more of your goods 'cause they can buy 'em cheaper. It all comes out in the wash, as they say. No I don't believe we're fighting this over the Euro. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #3 February 13, 2003 Quote oh boy...sounds like one of those guys who stands around swirling his drink at parties and boring the hell out of the other guests for 45 minutes at a stretch.I'm not impressed. The USA has not expressed overt concern about the Euro, I don't see why they would suddenly start. I'm no economist, but I say, who cares, ... Maybe the economists in the government care. It's a better explanation than anything else I've heard.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #4 February 13, 2003 Quote - it's abridge, as the original is 19 pages. Anyone who needs 19 pages to express an economic reason about Iraq is full of way more than an opinion: HOT F**KING AIR He is right about the EURO, but it's not a US concern, it's a FRENCH and GERMAN concern. Do some digging, the real economic tie lies there, especially considering how cuddly they are with Saddam.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #5 February 13, 2003 QuoteIt's a better explanation than anything else I've heard. Really? Why? I don't follow what would be the big deal if Iraq switched to Euros. Currencies do fluctuate compared to one another, (just as periods of growth and recession occur in cycles within a country) but if the country's economy is stable, what's the diff. in the long run? Not that I approve of attacking Iraq at this time (or within a few months) but I can think of combinations of other reasons that are much more compelling. One being, with Saddam & Co. removed, we can immediately lift the sanctions, which will allow Iraq to sell much more oil, which will lower oil prices. That's just one of several reasons, and certainly I think more compelling than a country's switch to the EURO. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #6 February 13, 2003 Quote Although completely suppressed in the U.S. media, the answer to the Iraq enigma is simple yet shocking - it's an oil currency war. In that case we should attack Alaska! Wait, aren't they already a state? Plenty of oil reserves I hear. Oh, but that's another issue. An environmental one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #7 February 13, 2003 Re.Divaskychick: I don't think this represents the general opinion from another country so much as it reflects the political attitude of the organization running the website it came from. check outhttp://www.indymedia.org one other thing:Here's how this guy ends his article: Quote Shall we accept the grave price of an unjust war over the currency of oil that will only benefit the US? Remaining silent is not an option. Make a small difference. Forward this to all you know. ... Well thank God he was here to enlighten the world!! Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cameramonkey 0 #8 February 13, 2003 QuoteForward this to all you know. BIIIIG red flag right there. One thing I have learned in my dealings with email hoaxes, chain letters, etc, is if it says that, beware. I cant tell you the last time I saw an email hit my inbox with that ending that actually was accurate and true. Usually its an urban legend, misquote, or blatant misrepresentation. Before you go accepting that (potential) rhetoric as gospel, check it out. Do some research.Two wrongs don't make a right, however three lefts DO! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #9 February 13, 2003 well cameramonkey, this IS just an opinion piece...even though the author does seem to be a bit messianic about his opinion. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #10 February 13, 2003 Here is indymedia's mission statement: Quote Indymedia is a democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth. man, I went to college with people like this! Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DivaSkyChick 0 #11 February 13, 2003 Please don't think that this is necessarily my opinion. I just know that this is a group who enjoys political debate and I found it interesting and new. Some of you do too, apparently! --- www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJohnson 0 #12 February 13, 2003 Damn! With a few exceptions Bill Von could have wrote that!! JJ "Call me Darth Balls" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #13 February 13, 2003 > Damn! With a few exceptions Bill Von could have wrote that!! Oh please. Saying it's all about oil (or about the Euro) makes about as much sense as saying it's all about the next election, or all about revenge, or all about disarmament. The real world isn't that black and white. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TitaniumLegs 8 #14 February 13, 2003 Quote I don't follow what would be the big deal if Iraq switched to Euros. I'm not sure the EU/EEC wants Iraq using the Euro. Would probably make it very unstable. (>o|-< If you don't believe me, ask me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallRate 0 #15 February 13, 2003 It does appear that someone wrote this piece with the hope of seeing the theme appear in a Tom Daschel speech. (The Onion Rules!!!) Utter nonsense, like most of what is found on the Internet. By the way, all of those truly "in-the-know" are aware that this war will prevent the rebuilding of "The Temple" which would serve to fulfill Biblical prophecy and usher in the end times. Duh! FallRate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #16 February 13, 2003 One of the few universal rules that can be used to understand behavior: FOLLOW THE MONEY.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #17 February 13, 2003 QuoteOne of the few universal rules that can be used to understand behavior: FOLLOW THE MONEY. OK kallend, no-one's saying money isn't an important factor. But why do you believe this author, who says it is specifically a currency-exchange issue that is so much more important than all the other issues (some of which are also economic)? That's what I don't get. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #18 February 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteOne of the few universal rules that can be used to understand behavior: FOLLOW THE MONEY. OK kallend, no-one's saying money isn't an important factor. But why do you believe this author, who says it is specifically a currency-exchange issue that is so much more important than all the other issues (some of which are also economic)? That's what I don't get. It's not a currency exchange issue, its a currency control issue.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #19 February 13, 2003 Currency control? I still don't understand that. Which currency another country uses may be of some importance, but as far as I can see, it is not of paramount importance. Certainly not as important as other issues such as oil supply, or whether Saddam is supplying weaponry for Palestinian terrorists, etc. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #20 February 13, 2003 Looks and reads more like an opinion piece than a news report. But you are right, it is interesting to see other sides"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #21 February 13, 2003 QuoteCurrency control? I still don't understand that. Which currency another country uses may be of some importance, but as far as I can see, it is not of paramount importance. Certainly not as important as other issues such as oil supply, or whether Saddam is supplying weaponry for Palestinian terrorists, etc. For a commodity like oil, traded in unimaginably huge quantities, the country whose currency is used to define the price (the $US right now) has a huge huge economic advantage. So large that it is quite reasonable to expect that it outweighs any moral or humanitarian considerations. Even if the US got none of its oil from the middle east, the fact that OPEC sets its prices in $US is to our advantage. If OPEC changed to the Euro, we would lose that.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #22 February 13, 2003 big deal, you can easily exchange us$ for EUROS. I still say the total amount of oil on the marketplace would be a bigger deal. Abundant and cheap oil would benefit the US economy far more than whether or not Iraq used $ or Euros. Even if I'm wrong about the importance of which currency Iraq uses, I still think it's naive and simplistic to try to say that there is just this one reason, and no other. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #23 February 14, 2003 Quotebig deal, you can easily exchange us$ for EUROS. I still say the total amount of oil on the marketplace would be a bigger deal. Abundant and cheap oil would benefit the US economy far more than whether or not Iraq used $ or Euros. Even if I'm wrong about the importance of which currency Iraq uses, I still think it's naive and simplistic to try to say that there is just this one reason, and no other. Did you ever take a class or two in economics? Do you know what a reserve currency is, and why it's important to control it? I think you are missing some basic information here that makes discussion rather pointless.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harryskydives 0 #24 February 14, 2003 Duhh why do you think the French & Grermans don't want the World to dig into Saddams nether workd of weapons of mass destruction?? Some body has been selling him the precursers and the technology, despite the embargo! Don't run out of altitude and experience at the same time... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmcguffee 0 #25 February 14, 2003 QuoteMaybe the economists in the government care. It's a better explanation than anything else I've heard. It is a nice theory but the writer presents absolutely no proof. His facts do not directly support his conclusion. IOW........it might be true but this idiot didn't say anything to prove it. It is all circumstantial. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
