A title none too fitting?

This week's column is called "Grappling with ‘fascism,’ reality" by Gil Smart. (Isn't this what I've been saying all along?) Ba dum, clash.

But seriously, I have to say this is the closest I think that Gil has come to reality yet - other than the fact that he is still stuck in Santorum-bashing mode and thinks the Iraq War is about oil.

What it comes down to is this: "Ah, but here’s where Santorum and I once again part ways. Santorum grasps the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but doesn’t seem to think this dependence has anything to do with terrorism."

Well, I find myself in a similar situation as the Gil-Santorum concept presented in this editorial. While some find it shocking he agrees with Santorum, he disagrees on one aspect. Similarly, some may find it shocking that I agree with Gil on some points of this article, but where I "part ways" with Gil is in thinking that this is all about oil.

True, in some respects, this might be about protecting American interests in the region. But is it only oil?

Reflecting on some of the past research I've done regarding the significance of Iraqi oil to the American economy, I would have to say that this is an overly-inflated and simplistic point of view on the topic. The BBC had this to say about Iraq's oil in 2003:

Despite the huge reserves, Iraqi exports now represent only 3% of total global production.

Daily production fell from a peak of 3.5 million barrels in 1980 to about 2.8 million barrels as the war began. Analysts say the industry's infrastructure is in poor shape and it could take years and millions of dollars to return to the 1980 level of output.

But Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said production could be increased far more rapidly and might lead to a need to restrict sales to protect oil prices. He said Iraq's production could reach 3.5 million barrels per day within a year.

While coalition commanders said many oil facilities were wired for destruction, most were seized intact as the US-led forces moved through Iraq.

So is America all that concerned about 3% of the world's oil production? Or is this about a "War on Terrorism"? I think that some people need to get a grip on reality. George Bush does not change "what this war was about". As I recall, it started as a war on terrorism and it remains just that.

It is merely in the minds of those who are struggling to grasp reality.

For more info on world oil production, visit this link.

Update: For the most recent data in 2004, Iraq produced 2.4% of the world's oil. Also, Iraq was not in the top ten oil producing countries in the world or in the top ten net exporters.



In 2002, the United States bought half of Iraq's oil exports to satisfy 9 percent of US import demand.

Iraq's suspension of oil exports (by Saddam Hussein in 2002) was unlikely to have lasting impact and, even if other producers followed suit, the consequences would've hit poor and emerging economies long before reaching the West, analysts said. Source

Still think it's about oil?