I was insufficiently cynical:

[Theophylact]

it really is about the oil!!!

U.S. civilian ruler Paul Bremer said on Tuesday Iraq should consider privatising its state-owned sectors and foreign investment in its oil industry before a permanent sovereign government takes over.

In other words: get it at bargain-basement prices before there's a legitimate government you have to deal with.

I never believed we were invading Iraq for humanitarian reasons, and now it's clear that the WMD stuff was (to put it kindly) a feeble excuse indeed. But I honestly had thought it was about projecting American power and influence.

Now it's quite clear: simple greed.

So my views over last few months are vindicated?

Wonder what Iron Duke will say now.

[RADAR1797]

Hmm, did you guys ever consider that it is just a good idea to have the oil industry not owned by the government? I would shudder to think what would happen to gas prices if the US nationalized Exxon.

-RADAR

True, but let the owners of the oil, the Iraqi citizens, decide that. Not Bush's errr.....associates in Houston/Dallas.

Looks bad for a US President to be involved in financial matters like this.

[Theophylact]

RADAR1797, I'm not opposed to privatization; I'm opposed to pillage. The idea of selling off the oil before there's any legal authority to stop it is basically plunder.

[Theophylact]

By the way: in lots of countries with nationalized oil industries, the price of gas is kept artificially low. And that's been a problem; since it doesn't reflect true costs, it subsidizes inefficient industries.

But, Bush says he's doing it for the poor Iraqi citizens, not his multimillionaire associates.

But then Bush says a lot of things.

Most of which I can't even understand.

Did either of you read Radar's post? And understand it?

Pillage? And what was Hussein doing with their oil?

This isn't about getting cheap oil for us, it's about spreading capitalism. It's plain as day. We're trying to Americanize them.

With all lucrative oil deals going to Bush's associates in Texas.

Yup, just trying to help the poor Iraqi citizens.

[CERuppel]

"Follow the rich white man."

WOrks for movies, and politics...

Thats sort of scary...