Why Iraq and Afghanistan?

Sea Sharp

I'm posting this thread because it came up in some of the other 911 threads but was a bit off topic so it warrents a new discussion.

Bearing in mind that it's generally accepted that the US government lied in order to justify the Iraq war.
Why do you think they actually went in?

Do you beleive that Afghanistan was really about catching Osamma Bin Laaden?

uncle_sam_ie

OIL.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

if it's about oil then why not just seize the oilfields and leave the rest to whoever wanted it?

Call Me Jimmy

I think afghanistan is mainly about keeping the taliban out of government. I'm interested in Iraq. Have the americans been taking the oil at an unreasonable price or what?

uncle_sam_ie

Afghanistan was taken for Oil. To the north of Afghanistan is one of the wealthiest oil fields in the world- on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. The problem is that the oil is landlocked. A pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan solves this problem. As for Iraq, just taking the oil field wouldn't have washed with the US public as a reason to go to war.

Phuckmii

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=uljOLFyCjjc

Found this vid very interesting. Very believable unlike some of the theories you'd hear...

Kernel

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

Afghanistan was taken for Oil. To the north of Afghanistan is one of the wealthiest oil fields in the world- on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. The problem is that the oil is landlocked. A pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan solves this problem. As for Iraq, just taking the oil field wouldn't have washed with the US public as a reason to go to war.

Yeah, totally agree. Oil and gas. Cornerstones of the economy.

the_syco

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Have the americans been taking the oil at an unreasonable price or what?

Don't think they've taken any, yet. Also think that the petrol companies who were going to get oil from Saddam are now going to get it anyhoo's, albeit through someone else.

mr.jones

its not just the oil,its also that afghanistan is a stepping stone to india/pakistan/china/russia
same with iraq,oil is one of the main issues but having easy access to the new big players in the world is important for the west incase china or india or russia wanna play ball.

Kernel

mr.jones wrote: »

its not just the oil,its also that afghanistan is a stepping stone to india/pakistan/china/russia
same with iraq,oil is one of the main issues but having easy access to the new big players in the world is important for the west incase china or india or russia wanna play ball.

Was thinking about the strategic importance of the countries, however, the US already have bases all over Saudi, and there's always Israel, so I'm not sure if this was a factor...

Max-Power

From looking at a map, they could be the first two pieces of a corridor between Israel and somewhere in Central Asia (China maybe?). They would need to take Iran and Syria to complete it, and they have already accused both countries of engaging in nuclear activity so that they can begin creating the excuse for future wars.

Mahatma coat

The US have bases all over Saudi Arabia alright, but tis not really a paletable option for either state for a long term relationship, US having to respect Saudi 'traditions'/Infidels runnin round the Holy Land with guns.

better to take some other country and start afresh with 'Secular Democracy'