History has done so.

 

I think that's the question bothering many folks right now.

To turn our backs now completely invalidates the sacrifice paid by so much of our blood and treasure.

To re-enter raises question of why we're cleaning up the Iraqis' mess.

I don't know the answer. It's clear that our CiC doesn't, either. He doesn't even know what questions to ask.

 

It doesn't matter, because oil, like pilots, are a global commodity. Both US and Intnl oil prices went up by about the same amount after this was publicized.

I find it surreal....Iranian Republican Guards are in Baghdad right now, advising and supporting the Baghdad government to help them stop the insurgents....and just a few years ago they were financing and arming insurgents to fight the Americans and the Baghdad gov't.

Why did we go into Iraq? Most Americans believe we did so to get back "at them" for 911. When one of the statues of Saddam was pulled down, the US troops were chanting "911" over and over.

I had a crashpad buddy, who is a conservative guy from the Midwest: He didn't believe me when I told him that almost all the 911 highjackers were Saudis, and none was from Iraq. He looked it up himself, and was shocked. He said he didn't understand why we were in Iraq....he thought it was to get them back for their 911 terrorism.

 

Reminds me of April 1975.

 

Iraq is ESPECIALLY important to airline pilots, I just read.

The TOTAL world's excess oil capacity is 2.5m barrels per day.
The total Iraqi output: 2.5m barrels per day.

If Iraqi oil production falls significantly, there is no excess capacity at all, and oil prices will go up a lot, and could spike significantly if there are any other problems.

Iraq's Kurds Try (and Fail) to Sell More Crude Oil - Businessweek

 

Forbes predicts that oil prices will remain between $110 and $150/barrel until the situation in Iraq is stabilized.

I think oil prices will climb to and stay above $150/barrel, at some point (it may be 10 years from now, or more), until we significantly reduce our demand for oil.

 

Ah yes, the "I've finished my private and instrument and I'm 25K in debt, so I might as well finish it!"-scenario...

 

This problem is easily solved. Use our spec ops folks to seize Iraq's oil infrastructure. Protect it with a lot of regular troops once under out control. Let their people we trust run the production. We sell their oil at marker value. The money is deposited into fund destined for Iraqi citizens. We keep the interest. Once they decide who is going to be in control and who wins their fight, we'll give them some of the money to start rebuilding.

This way the world gets Iraqi oil, they get their money, the best man wins control and it doesn't affect oil prices.

 

This is exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn't begin to express it as well as you did. Thanks.

 

Yeahbut...

if Viet Nam had oil, instead of hookers, we'd probably still be in there, "fighting for their Freedom"!

I think her name was Lei Mei.

And no, it wasn't free!