This War Isn't About Oil

Oh, Wait, Maybe It Is

Those opposed to the invasion of Iraq cried "No war for oil," and they were answered by the Bush administration: "Iraq was involved in 9/11! What's that? Saudi Arabia? Never mind them, we're going to Iraq!"

Then the American public learned that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, even the President admitted it, and again those opposed to the war cried "No war for oil!" This time the administration said: "They have WMDs that could attack Americans, look, Colin says so and he's black; we're staying in Iraq!"

But no one ever found any WMDs and certain UN inspectors said they never existed.

Again, those opposed to the conflict cried "No war for oil!" The answer then came: "This isn't about oil, it is about freedom and democracy and thinking we can in five years stabilize a region that has been torn apart by cultural and religious infighting over centuries!"

Well, not so much. It is pretty easy to read between the lines on this one from the New York Times -

The Iraqi cabinet approved a draft of a law on Monday that would set guidelines for nationwide distribution of oil revenues and foreign investment in the immense oil industry.
-snip-
The law also grants regional oil companies or governments the power to sign contracts with foreign companies for exploration and development of fields, opening the door for investment by foreign companies in a country whose oil reserves rank among the world’s three largest.
Iraqi officials say dozens of major foreign companies, including ones based in the United States, Russia and China, have expressed strong interest in developing fields or have done some work with the Iraqi industry. The national oil law would allow regions to enter into production-sharing agreements with foreign companies, which some Iraqis say could lead to foreigners reaping too much of the country’s oil wealth.
-snip-
Since last year, senior Bush administration officials and top American commanders here have said a new oil law is crucial to the country’s political and economic development, and they have pressured Iraqi leaders relentlessly to make passage of the law a priority.