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Page added on January 21, 2017
President Trump Just Told The CIA The U.S. Should Have Stolen Iraq’s Oil
President Donald Trump told the CIA on Saturday that the so-called Islamic State probably would never have existed if the United States had seized Iraq’s oilfields, a claim that flies in the face of the analysis of most foreign policy experts and international law.
In unprepared remarks introducing his pick to lead the intelligence agency, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Trump told CIA officials that when the United States went into Iraq, we should have “kept the oil.”
“Now I said it for economic reasons,” Trump said. “But if you think about it, Mike, if we kept the oil, you probably wouldn’t have ISIS because that’s where they made their money in the first place, so we should have kept the oil. But, OK, maybe we’ll have another chance.”
It’s a claim that Trump repeatedly used on the campaign trail. But the president’s willingness to tell the CIA ― and, indeed, the international community ― that he thinks the United States should have looted a country’s resources is a new mark in foreign diplomacy and yet another signal that there will be no shift to more responsible rhetoric now that Trump represents the country as its leader.
The strategy of taking Iraq’s oil is plainly in violation of multiple international laws and United Nations agreements.
Politifact looked into this claim from Trump in September and found a number of reasons why taking Iraq’s oil, as Trump advocates, would be illegal.
“What Trump seems to be advocating here would be a fundamental violation of international law embodied in numerous international agreements and in recognized principles of customary international law,” said Anthony Clark Arend, a Georgetown University professor of government and foreign service.
Specifically, Arend cited the Annex to the Hague Convention of 1907 on the Laws and Customs of War, which says that “private property … must be respected (and) cannot be confiscated.” It also says that “pillage is formally forbidden.”
In addition, Arend said, the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War provides that “any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.”
Richard D. Rosen, the director of Texas Tech University’s Center for Military Law & Policy, added that Trump’s idea “appears to constitute aggression of the type condemned by the United Nations by resolution in 1974.” The resolution states that “any military occupation, however temporary, resulting from such invasion or attack, or any annexation by the use of force of the territory of another State or part thereof” qualifies as an “act of aggression.”
Arend said the only way he could envision an idea like Trump’s being acceptable under international law would stem from sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council. But that would be moot in this case since the 2003 Iraq War was not undertaken with the approval of the Security Council.
Foreign policy experts also seem to think taking Iraq’s oil would neither be feasible, nor desirable.
Experts cited the long-term damage to the United States’ reputation as an imperial force seizing the natural resources of countries, as well as the practical challenges in actually taking a country’s oil. Devoting such a large number of troops to pillaging oilfields and protecting oil pipelines and transportation routes would require a more permanent presence in Iraq and far more troops than the United States has available.
It’s also difficult to see how looting oil would better U.S. standing in Iraq and not lead to more extremism.
But hey, in Trump’s words, “maybe we’ll have another chance.”
76 Comments on "President Trump Just Told The CIA The U.S. Should Have Stolen Iraq’s Oil"
Plantagenet on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 8:51 pm
The Ds never should’ve nominated Hillary. Polling showed that Bernie would’ve beaten Trump but no—the DNC had to game the system so Hillary got the D nomination—even though Hillary was a very flawed candidate with very high negatives.
Cheers!
makati1 on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 9:05 pm
HUFFY is full of itself these days.
The Iraqis would probably have given the U$ their oil if they knew what the Empire, over the next next 12+ years, would do to them and their country.
But, then the U$ ignores ‘international rules’ anytime it wants to. And as for ‘foreign policy experts’. They are bought and paid for by the highest bidder, just like the U$ congress.
BTW: An ‘expert’ is a drip under pressure.
dave thompson on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 9:22 pm
Anyone taking bets on how long it takes before President Trump gets himself in trouble by his own blinding narcissism and self importance? The president seems to think he is pretty darn smart and has an intelligence beyond any kind of criticism. I think he is setting himself up for a rude awakening.
BobInget on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 9:40 pm
#1) This entire Middle East intervention was about oil. D.T. said as much.
#2) Putin convinced Trump , ‘stick with me
Don, together we can corner oil markets’.
With KSA ‘on the ropes’ the ‘New OPEC’ will
be led by Donald Trump’s USA. What better BS then that to feed the world’s leading narcissist ?
I give DT 30 days before he has terminally offended most of our allies, China and Saudi Arabia. When Saudi Princes hear “we should have taken Iraq’s oil” (watch for Iraqi lawsuits for trillions of dollars lost because of an illegal invasion and occupation) Saudis will correctly connect dots that are already touching.
Trump is almost certain to continue to throw around such terms as ” Radical Islamic Terrorists”
wherever he believes his ‘base’ is listening.
Well, I got hot news-flashes. This is exactly where Putin wants us.
joe on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 10:45 pm
You guys do realise US troops are fighting in Iraq still right? That Obama ordered troops in when ISIS took Mosul in 2014. Trump is right about ISIS revenue sources. That article refers to private property. ISIS DOES NOT OWN THAT OIL EITHER.
Planty, you know the truth, the Dems are as corrupt as the Reps, so their base is in meltdown and denial and they will scream at Trump because mud sticks to him because he is a more typical man than legal eagle Obama, or Slick Willy, or Wiley Fox Bush. Obama made 2 mistakes that caused ISIS to rise, 1. Drawdown was too fast, 2. Trying to topple Assad at the same time as leaving Iraq defenseless.
Survivalist on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 10:55 pm
Much of the Middle East will soon be turning to Russia for security guarantees. Russia can provide Israel and KSA with security guarantees by restraining and constraining their Shiite clients. If KSA turns to Russia for security guarantees but not Israel then it will split and drive wedge issues into Saudi-Israeli security cooperation. Israel has security agreements with all of its Sunni neighbours but none of its Shiite neighbours.
If Sanders runs he will likely win the DNC nomination in 2020.
makati1 on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 10:56 pm
joe, not to mention 3. Arming them and providing them with air cover…lol
makati1 on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 10:58 pm
dave, maybe it is you who will have a rude awakening? I suspect he knows exactly what he is doing. You do not get to be a billionaire by being stupid.
Sissyfuss on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 11:31 pm
So much for him being more presidential after taking the oath. I guess never having a boss and always being one gives that person both a huge ego and a diminished ability to discern reality.
dave thompson on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 11:32 pm
Makati, I never said the man was stupid. However, President Trump comes across as being rather pompous, seeing he was born into privilege, inheriting a generous amount of money and power through his fathers fortunes, Trump has spent a life time being full of himself. Now as President I see a man that is blind to reality in terms of what the real world is about. The wealthy do not live in the real world. As for my rude awakening? Not sure what you mean.
antaris on Sat, 21st Jan 2017 11:46 pm
I can see a day soon, when people all over our world will not post here.
paulo1 on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:02 am
Good comment, Plant. Hillary was very bad. They smugly thought the fix was in.
Dave, I give him 6 months before he is impeached or taken out. He is a dangerous loose cannon. When he starts costing some real profits, or continues to insult the Intelligence Community with his lack of any intelligence and/or support, it will be bye bye Donald.
Do any of you think an army would/could be fielded to fight a Trump war? I don’t think so. Tillerson mused out loud about possibly blockading China from supplying their new south China Sea bases. riiight. That’ll work.
Washington ain’t Kansas, Donald, and China ain’t Greneda.
Keith McClary on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:07 am
http://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/humpty-dumpty
makati1 on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:09 am
Donald may not be the uneducated, ignorant fool some of you want to believe. Time will tell. I hope he succeeds in moving away from war and takes the US back into isolation. IT would be a good thing for everyone.
antaris on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:10 am
Paulo, what if some of the Intel buy into to his shit, and we get another hitler ?
makati1 on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:15 am
Antaris, it might just be in the cards. Can you imagine Hitler with today’s electronic propaganda system and nukes? But, I think we missed that opportunity when Killary failed.
dave thompson on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:30 am
All this President Trump does is lie. http://tracking.feedpress.it/link/9499/5177696
dave thompson on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:33 am
This president cannot face reality. http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/01/what-does-it-take-press-call-lie-lie
antaris on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:39 am
Mak, yes I can. Different name. The Intel guys review here. You guys should try a Tim Hortons donuts, the best.
makati1 on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 12:49 am
Intel? I don’t give a damn. I say what I think. That used to be called ‘freedom’. lol
dave thompson on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:02 am
Makati1 Still want to know about my “rude awakening”
dave thompson on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:08 am
The bullshit continues. http://thedailybanter.com/2017/01/trump-broke-almost-all-his-promises-for-his-first-day/
antaris on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:17 am
Mak, we say what we want until some ass holes boys show up. Hopefully they don’t buy into his sales pitch. If they do, its history repeat time!
dave thompson on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:18 am
Trump personifies the worst aspects of corrupt crony capitalism. He inherited his father’s real estate empire, made possible by federal government housing subsidies. “He has curried favor with Democratic and Republican politicians at the local, state and national level by contributing millions of dollars in campaign donations. He has abused the nation’s bankruptcy and tax laws to avoid his responsibility to his lenders, employees, business partners, and the country as a whole.” http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/peter-dreier/70776/american-fascist
antaris on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:21 am
And yet floated to the top !
dave thompson on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:26 am
Yes he floated like a piece of…..
makati1 on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 1:59 am
Dave. I don’t think anyone has any idea what is coming from Trump for sure, but I think he will do his best to keep his promises.
What do you know that the rest of the world doesn’t? You have some bad connections to Trump in the past? Lost big at one of his casinos? A diehard Democrat … what ever that means today?
I call it as I see it. I see him doing much of what he has promised. If TPTB take him out, it could start the 2nd U$ civil war. That too would be a good thing. I see win-win in the future for the rest of the world. As for the U$. well, payback is a bitch and about time.
DerHundistlos on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 2:33 am
This is the kind of intelectual gravitas we can look forward to for the next four years. Any person incapable of stringing together two sentences in a logical and coherent manner should be an automatic disqualifier for president.
DerHundistlos on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 2:37 am
@ Planter’s
Sorry pal but that’s all old news. Now the roles are reversed and i eagerly look forward to the next four years. It’s so much easier being critical than governing.
Get used to it Planter’s wart.
DerHundistlos on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 2:40 am
@ dave thompson
Seriously, this what really worries me about Trump:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CdKuLRmg8k
Cloggie on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 2:49 am
The one and only reason why IS came out of the woodwork was because the US army invaded and removed a secular dictator that kept competing tribes (Sunny, Shia and Kurds) together.
Artificial countries like the USSR, Yugoslavia and Syria (and soon the US), loaded with competing tribes, can only be kept together with a dictatorial regime.
Iraq was an artificial “country” that should never have existed in the first place, but came into being as a result of the carving up of the Middle-East between Britain (Iraq) and France (Syria, Lebanon) in 1916:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement
But these are subtleties lost on the Donald, who thinks that the entire history can be explained from oil, the lifeblood of US society and US history.
Ah well, as long as he crushes the neocons.
DerHundistlos on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 2:56 am
@ Joe Who
says, ” 1. Drawdown was too fast, 2. Trying to topple Assad at the same time as leaving Iraq defenseless.”
News flash Mr. Genius…..the Bush administration legally obligated President Obama to exit Iraq due to a security agreement signed with Iraq. So you think the US can arbitrarily ignore treaties and do as it pleases. Unbelievable.
Hubert on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 3:38 am
As the idiot W said,”America is addicted to oil.”
Midnight Oil on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 3:53 am
Standard business “ethics” for Trump,
What mine is mine and what is yours is negotiable!
Translation, What is My oil doing under your sand.
PS Bush and Company did TRY to take the oil,
Under the guise of privatization…
The Iraqis flatly refused.
Trump will fix that
q on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 4:36 am
Trump is direct result of Obama’s policy. He talked about peace yet he dropped many thousands bombs around the world and almost started WW3. He talked about equality but gap between rich and poor grow most during his era. He talked about ecology and let flourish unecological fracking. I’m glad that Trump at least says what he thinks and isn’t such lying puppet like Obummer. And when oil will be really scarce, those with biggest military power will simply steal rest of it regardless of Trump.
Cloggie on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 5:22 am
“20th century is now really over”
…Says the German foreign minister:
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frank-walter-steinmeier-welt-des-20-jahrhunderts-endgueltig-vorueber-a-1131119.html
Steinmeier called Trump a “preacher of hate” during the campaign, now says that Germany needs to work together with Trump.
The 20th century is over indeed and the geopolitical cards are going to be dealt anew. Fascinating times. The 20th century was nothing but bad news for Europe. Perhaps better this time:
– Soviet empire flat on its face. Check
– America divided to the core on ethnic grounds. Check
– Europe is now united for the first time in its history, Europe-hostile UK volunteered to leave and Europe-friendly Russia wants to become a fully fledged member (in the light of the rising power of neighbor China). Check
– A slim majority of the US doesn’t like at all to become a third world country and now openly says so. Check
Throw it all in the mixer and you get this picture…
Multi-polar world is next.
https://s17.postimg.org/6wwnomfpb/worldmap.jpg
Cloggie on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 5:48 am
Pat Buchanan celebrates the triumph.
http://www.unz.com/pbuchanan/new-president-new-world/
Buchanan, whose most successful bid for the presidency was in 1996, has to conclude that he came 20 years too early. He always saw what was coming much earlier than the rest of the country. Buchanan was for the US what Amalrik was for the USSR, a Cassandra of a message nobody wanted to hear:
https://www.amazon.com/Soviet-Union-Survive-Harper-Colophon/dp/0060907320/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.amazon.com/Suicide-Superpower-Will-America-Survive-ebook/dp/B004YD36HS/ref=sr_1_1
Amalrik was 5-7 years off the mark. I think that Buchanan will be more accurate. Assuming that Trump will keep his “stamina” for 8 years and he won’t be sabotaged, assassinated, impeached, whatever before, that would mean he would leave office in 2025. By that time the European left will have been washed out of the system by the populists, the EU will have an army and the demographic balance in the US will have been further deteriorated to the disadvantage of the Euro’s. The prospect for heartland USA to return to the rule of the Soros types will be too much to bear and the real revolt will begin., a revolt that will be supported by Europe, now including Russia.
Buchanan:
The old order is passing away. Treaties and alliances dating from the Cold War are ceasing to be relevant and cannot long be sustained. Economic patriotism and ethnonationalism, personified by Trump, seem everywhere ascendant. Transnationalism is yielding to tribalism… the existential threat to the West no longer comes from the East, from a Russian army crashing through Poland and Germany and driving for the Elbe and Fulda Gap. The existential threat to the West comes, instead, from the South.
Amen.
peakyeast on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 6:02 am
It is funny how the media can call on all of Trumps lies – but never did the same to Obama nor Bush…
Impartial and balanced news conveyance?? – The trait of journalists? The “news” are written and chosen by paid prostitutes with no honour nor integrity.
And this socalled expert where was he when Iraq was invaded? Because even with all these fantastic experts the government had access to ISIS did happen. Millions of civilian Iraqis did die. And it did blow up just about the whole region.
What a GREAT plan from bush and Obama!??! Come with proof that Trumps plan is worse. – Because the plan that was in place and executed certainly was conceived in hell by shitflies on steroids.
Cloggie on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 6:38 am
It is funny how the media can call on all of Trumps lies – but never did the same to Obama nor Bush…
Western MSM = Soros News Network.
A state of affairs that went hand in hand with the rise of the US global empire after 1945.
But the end of that empire is in sight and Trump is a clear symptom of that development.
In a decade or so the MSM will have been drowned in the internet. Just another link in a sea of millions of links.
Davy on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 6:44 am
I posted this speech yesterday to see who would catch the Iraqi oil thing. I heard that and it made me cringe yet, he said it like it is. The anti-Americans missed he also said we should have never gone into Iraqi in the first place but of course an anti-American only hears the bad. He then said since we were there we should have kept the oil. You guys had a conniption fit over that but isn’t that what the neocons were there for and lied about? Obama and the neoliberals continued that lie in Syria. Trump is honest. If there is anything refreshing about him it is his directness and honesty. I am sure he will be caught in a lie and make plenty of mistakes but he is the most honest president in years. He spoke for 20 minutes or more without a spoon fed speech. The rank and file of the CIA love the guy. It is the insider corruption that is scared to death of him. We don’t know how Trump is going to turn out. You anti-Americans just are not going to like anyone American to lead America expect a complete pussy who grovels before you in guilt and in penance.
I thought Trump was brilliant. He won over the CIA people not the Brennans. It was the insider leadership not the rank and file who were corrupt. These are the little guys that found in Trump someone who believes in them and wants to empower them. He spoke directly to them and with focus. He gave them a clear mission like real leaders do. He told them he is going to give them what it takes to achieve this. He wants radical Islam eliminated simple and sweet. He talked to them like a real leader not like an Obama. A typical politician like Obama would have talked with double speak to avoid upsetting political correctness. That is how you get fake Nobel peace prize. He is real and you fucks that hate America should be worried. Too bad boys I doubt he will be impeached either. He is smart enough and with a team smart enough to know they have real enemies around every corner. The best defense is a good offense and Trump left the gate swinging. Trump is a force to be reckoned with and just like the campaign when everyone diminished him and discredited him he has the wool pull over your eyes. LOL.
I have said this a lot lately Trump is going to fail in success and succeed in failure. He is going to succeed in disrupting the establishment. He is going to drain the swamp but differently than people might want or think. He is going after the insider establishment with insiders. He is offering his insiders power and a new direction as an alternative to years of American failure. This neocon and neoliberal failure is not only American it is global. It is political and it is economic. This is a huge change and it will have profound consequences. So much for the anti-American whiners here that use the usual contempt that all presidents are puppets. This one is not and you guys can’t stand it. He is bringing you the change you want but the problem is you got what you wished for but you forgot to be careful wishing for what you want. He will fail in making America great but succeed in cleansing some of it from years of corruption. He may corrupt too because this process is unfolding and anything is possible. I am just highlighting a direction.
Trump is going to fail to make America great again economically because nationalism will lower economic activity for all. Affluence will decline and with it US economic strength. Yet, what is left will be an America that might be stronger but with less in isolationism. Politically Trump might just clean some things up. He may just drain some of the swamp but create something many people are very afraid of. He might just be a real leader with real power. He might energize half a nation and fight the other half. IMA, the other half that many of you are a part of. The liberal left and neocon right are bat shit crazy against him and that ensures he will be more radical. If you want to win over someone like Trump don’t attack him. He loves a fight. He is going to be dangerous and unpredictable and it is these qualities at this time in history that will get things done. This might end in civil war which is always possible with these kind of changes. All of us should worry about that. Yet, this was something building over time it is inevitable when corruption goes as far as it has in Washington and with globalism.
Cloggie on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 6:56 am
Well said, Davy.
John Kintree on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 7:58 am
I am glad to hear confirmation that Trump actually did say we should have kept the oil during his speech at the CIA. It was the the headline of this post at peakoil, yet the video clips from the speech that were attached to this article did not include the part of the speech in which Trump allegedly said we should have kept the oil. It is difficult to believe anything these days unless you hear it or see it for yourself.
John Kintree on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 8:11 am
Yep. He said we should have kept the oil at about 9 minutes 30 seconds into his 16 minute speech. The full speech is at youtube.
rockman on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 8:49 am
Davy – I doubt you have more appetite for “nation building” then me. Same with going into Iraq in the first place.
But when we look back post WWII nation building in Germany and Japan ultimately had reasonable results. Imagine if the US had withdrew from Europe and Asia immediately at the end of the war. One can let their imagination run wild on those possibilities.
But what a complex issue in the ME. How would we rebuild a country, Iraq, that didn’t really exist in the first: long ago some old white guys sat around a table and drew a line on a blank map and labeled everything inside as Iraq. But what could we have do: split the made country of Iraq into 3 countries: Sunni, Shiite and Kurd? That might have prevented ISIS, maybe added more stability, etc. OTOH would it have kicked off a military conflict protecting the Kurds from the Turks? After all we didn’t let the Chinese roll over their historic enemy, Japan, after WWII. Or the Russians to claim all of Germany and any other European country it wanted.
The number of posts under this thread indicates the complexity of the issue. Difficult to find much common ground.
Nony on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 9:21 am
The mistake was invading Iraq. Not in not stealing the oil, not in Paul Bremer and the 25 year olds from McKinsey fucking things up. The mistake was front and center, getting involved.
Should have stayed out. Saddam was not a threat. And we had plenty of levers to gently screw with him from outside (SA, KU, no fly, Iran, etc.). Should have left him and Qaddafi alone. Lost a lot of money and lives by touching those tar babies. Not smart, not smart.
peakyeast on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 9:29 am
I agree on the staying out of Iraq in the first place. But I find it a bigger problem that the government(s) seems to think that lying to the people is acceptable in order to get a war…
And that is not an American trait. It is a government trait today and perhaps always.
Cloggie on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 9:42 am
But when we look back post WWII nation building in Germany and Japan ultimately had reasonable results. Imagine if the US had withdrew from Europe and Asia immediately at the end of the war. One can let their imagination run wild on those possibilities.
Germany is about the last country on earth that needed to be nation-built. The Germans are about the only people who can recover from a grandiose defeat in a matter of a decade and en passant put a man on the moon, provided they can find a tax farm large enough to pay for it all and a great president willing to back that grandiose vision.
The idea that America “intervened” in Europe in order to “come to its rescue” and “liberate” it, is perhaps an attractive self-delusion for the average western television watcher, it has little to do with reality.
The reality is that by 1940, the US had such a gigantic economy and so little geopolitical clout that it decided that time had come for America to “spread it wings” and go on a conquest spree… until November 2016.
Global GDP distribution 1940:
Allies
USA 29%
USSR 13%
British Empire 11%
France 5%
total 58%
Axis
Germany 11%
Japan 6%
Italy 5%
Total 22%
Germany never had a chance to begin with. The standard lie is that “Germany started WW2”, in reality Germany was forced to intervene in Poland, because the Poles had begun an anti-German ethnic cleansing operation from historic German lands, secretly encouraged by the Americans, who told the Poles that they could do what they wanted, because they were going to be backed by the Americans, British and French anyway (a bold faced lie, after the war the Poles would be handed over to Stalin without a peep). The US had pushed Britain and France first in a Polish war guarantee via strong diplomatic pressure. Once that war guarantee was in place, the US merely needed to incite the Poles with false promises to get the war in Europe started, a war that would lead to the colonization of the whole of Europe by the bosom-buddies USA and USSR, all by design since 1933. Germany had by 1933 never any other intention that to get rid of the Versailles straight-jacket and take back all German territories, that is territories that all wanted by themselves to return to Germany.
The US defense minister Forrestal wrote in his diary, as published by Life Magazine in 1951: Played golf today with Joe Kennedy… Chamberlain, he (Kennedy) says, stated that America and the world Jews had forced England into the war.
The eternal shame of the US is that it allied itself with the greatest monster this planet has ever seen, the USSR and together destroyed and colonized the European mother civilization. The reason why the US did that was because both the US and USSR were after ca. 1917 behind the scenes taken over by a certain group of people, hell bent to conquer the planet and as such realize a millennia old dream of the “Self-Chosen”. These people were finally defeated in Russia in 2000 and tentatively in the US in last November, although they could still have a comeback in the near future in the US, they are just biding their time.
Iraq. But what could we have do
You should have listened to KSA in 2003 and have stayed at home in the first place, but the neocons didn’t organize 9/11 and next lean back. But now that the US crossed the Rubicon, the Sunni fundamentalist cat is out of the bag and the road for Turkey is paved to reestablish its old Ottoman Empire, the very same empire the French and British carved up in 1916, because Turkey had allied itself to Germany and was an adversary at the time. There is absolutely nothing the US can do apart from creating even more havoc. The destruction of IS is not going to happen. And yes you can bomb them out of Raqqa, but until you have not bombed the Quran out of the minds of the Jihadists, you will make them stronger with every attack. Turkey, KSA and other Gulf states have now strategic cooperation in place and will encourage to create a Sunni corridor between Turkey and KSA.
Apneaman on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 9:44 am
Sounds like typical empire rhetoric to me.
joe on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 9:55 am
In order to make sense of what Trump means by keeping the oil its important to understand what doing so implies. It means making a pact with the devil, it means allowing those who rule in Sunni Iraq to retake control and use them as local go betweens. That means that the Shia Iraqis will be mighty pissed off because they want Baghdad based government oil companies to own the oil, and the Shia rule Baghdad. But this is just speculation. After ISIS only comes worse, so the reality is that either an isis type regime will rule, or a Shia dominated army will occupy Sunni areas again. Baghdad had its chance in 2010-14 and it blew it, it kept killing sunni leaders and stopping oil deals. Partition into some kind of less extreme Sunni state hemmed in by Shia/Chrisitan Syria and Shia Iran/Iraq, but supported by Turkey and Saudi etc is probably going to happen and its a recipe for unending war. Trump will be blamed for it of course but its already a done deal guys. I haven’t even mentioned the Kurdish issues yet.
Apneaman on Sun, 22nd Jan 2017 10:11 am
Huge crack in Antarctic ice shelf grows by 6 more miles
“A crack in an ice shelf in Antarctica grew by six miles in the past few weeks, British scientists say, and now measures more than 100 miles long.
Once the crack is complete, a giant iceberg larger than Rhode Island will break or “calve” off of Antarctica. The iceberg would be one of the biggest on record.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/01/20/antarctic-ice-shelf-crack-iceberg/96841060/