Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Secrets, lies and big oil

By Will Hardiker - posted Thursday, 31 July 2008


Two years into the invasion those same signatories to the Brussels agreement sat back and watched as their profits tripled to some US$87 billion.

In 2007, Exxon recorded the highest profit (US$40.6 billion) of any enterprise … ever. This incredible feat was achieved before the price of a barrel rose above US$100. Should anyone still have any doubts as to the real agenda of the Bush Administration in Iraq, they might keep in mind the following. Since the illegal, pre-emptive war on Iraq, the value of Exxon’s reserves have risen by US$2 trillion!

The George W Bush Presidency marked the beginning of what might aptly be called a “Golden Age” for big oil. The Administration’s subsequent foreign policy debacles in the Middle East now begin to make some kind of sordid sense keeping in mind that Iraq’s oil reserves could potentially fulfil market demand for decades to come.

Advertisement

The events of September 11, 2001 unfortunately did nothing to awaken US Middle East foreign policy makers. Rather they responded to a crime with a war and since no specific country was involved the declared war was a “war on terrorism”, whoever and wherever it might be. Such an abstract, almost metaphysical concept of war might best be described an oil man’s wet dream. However, the old adage “war is good for business” holds firm, particularly for the oil and armaments industry and vast fortunes have of course been realised. Artificial rises in the price of oil due to war and political chaos in the Middle East hand over to the oil industry huge windfalls; profits that can be seen as nothing less than war profiteering.

The bottom line is that oil, and as a consequence petrol prices, has nothing to do with the false perception of worldwide shortages - in either reserves or supply - and governments are all but impotent in the face of angry protest. Rather oil prices are determined by the big oil companies’ unethical and immoral profiteering from war and geo-political instability in the Middle East.

George W Bush, in the service of the oil industry has willingly sent thousands of young Americans to their graves. When he leaves office in a few months his record will show that he served his masters well. One might even say “above and beyond the call of duty”.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

19 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

William Hardiker is a journalist and activist living in Australia.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Will Hardiker

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 19 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy