The Losses of France, Germany & Russia
- March 26, 2003
- 8 comments
MEMRI has translated and summarized an article by an Egyptian economist Khalil Al-’Anani which was on Al Jazeera’s Web site. In it, the author points out how the French, German and Russians all have huge economic ties to Iraq under Saddam’s control and what they stand to lose by Saddam getting booted out.
Chris
November 20, 2003
Nice use of big, guilt-inspiring words in your post, Hip Master Greg. “Fundamentally racist”. Wow, maybe I should rethink my position then, huh? I’m guessing you didn’t even bother to read the article I linked to?
Let’s take a look at this from your angle, since we’re all just big, greedy capitalist, oil vampire countries. The US, France, Germany and Russia are all capitalist countries now. All need oil. It’s not a matter of greed, they NEED oil to operate. If these countries DIDN’T have oil, then their economies would collapse, people would lose jobs, there would be uprisings, violence, anarchy. But since oil simply can’t be something good, something necessary for a country to run, we’ll ignore that.
The point I’m bringing up is that it’s better to remove Saddam from Iraq because, first and foremost, the Iraqi people are no longer suppressed and murdered. That alone should be good enough. Apparently not for you since oil is involved. Secondly, if Saddam is gone, the UN will lift its sanctions. This will enable the Iraqis to import and export much more than before, bringing in MUCH more money for the country. Third, the oil will flow more freely with Saddam gone, bringing in more money yet again for the country. If the oil flows more freely, then ALL oil-needing countries will benefit. The US most of all because its the biggest country of the bunch and USES most of the oil. It buys more because it needs more. Nothing particularly hard to understand there.
But, like you said… none of that matters. We’re all greedy pigs.
greg wilford
November 20, 2003
sure the U.S. needs oil, but it is the way it goes about getting its oil which provokes such a reaction throughout the world against America. Saying “Hey, we’re all greedy pigs” in a sarcastic voice doesn’t make you any less greedy. Capatilist countries will eventually hit an economic “brick wall” so to speak because as the divide between the upper and lower classes grows it will eventually have to fall back on itself. What will the U.S. do when their oil runs out? I am appalled at how George Bush and his administration has used the victims of 9/11 as a scapegoat to dupe his public into supporting another wall street war.
Hip Master G
November 20, 2003
Chris
November 20, 2003
Tell me how the US goes about getting oil any differently than any other oil-needing country?
I can see from your position you do not like capitalism. You still haven’t established with proof the US is any more greedy compared to any other oil-needing country.
Ah… here we go. The classic socialist “class warfare” argument. The doom and gloom of a “divide” between classes growing at such a rate that everything will crumble and the lower classes will rise up and smite the upper classes. Of course rich people will make more money than poorer people. You need big money to make big money. Or a big break. You also seem to forget or ignore that there’s a gigantic middle class in the US. In any capitalist society, there will be a middle class. China is seeing a huge growth in their middle class right now.
The US will and is researching other forms of energy and will begin transitioning towards whichever ones will prove most cost-effective not only to produce, but also to migrate to. The US can’t just dump it’s oil use within a few years without creating a monstrous price tag it can’t afford. No developed country can. It will take time and LOTS of research to find the right solutions. Until then, we will continue using oil, just like any other developed country.
Where did your “wall street war” comment come from? And where’s your proof there even is such a war? Don’t sling standard left-wing catch-phrases around unless you can back it up with facts.
There is no point in arguing with someone who labels your views “fundamentally racist” without backing it up or reading what you have to say. We’re not even talking race here, we’re talking economics. Get your labels right, at least.
FUNK MEISTER ZERO
November 20, 2003
I was gonna back it up, but my response was over 2500 characters and I’m too knackered to think of a short and sweet version. I don’t see France, Germany or Russia attacking various countries or organising military coups to overthrow a government that wants to nationalise their oil development. By the way, your link didn’t work in the first place so I couldn’t read that article.
Bill
November 20, 2003
You have been taken over by a state that runs on fear. You actually believe that if European countries don’t make up a lame excuse for war, kill hundreds of people and steal their oil that they would collapse into anarchy. Your wrong. America is probably the only country that would fail in such a way because it is socially and politically fucked and overrun with fear.
You seem to have forgotten what the United States of America stood to lose if Saddam stayed in power, namely a lot of shares in oil. So before you start your fundamentally racist comments about France, Germany and Russia ( presumably because they were anti – war ) just try and remember that France isn’t the only mega capatilist country in the world.