If the Iraq war was all about oil, then why is gas still expensive?

Question

Why hasn't Bush established oil wells over there? Why didn't we just take the country over and have full control over the oil.

Are we sure it was about oil?

Answer 1

because there is more than one reason to control the oil. Oil is the money that extremists use to wage war. The govt cant say its about oil because people cant get past the thought that we did it just to profit. How about we did it to stop the people that want us dead from their gaining profit. The only way to keep people at bay is to attack their money. the same people that say we are waging war to take oil also say these terrorists cant do anything because they are savages living in caves. maybe so now but anybody can gain technology when there are people who are willing to sell their technology at a price. and they definatly have the ability to buy it with no restrictions on their use of the most used commodity in the world.

Answer 2

actuality is... human beings will even with the undeniable fact that could desire to purchase the oil. component of the explanation grew to become the reality that having a friendly government for oil companies to negotiate useful contracts with.... that makes the earnings margin that plenty greater beneficial. yet... The U.S. spent someplace close to $3 trillion on the Iraq conflict. Iraq produces some factor like $40 5 Billion in oil each twelve months.... so at present day-day expenses it is going to take 70 years to make that money decrease back..... if each penny grew to become earnings. and no one thinks there is 70 years of oil LEFT in Iraq. yet there is greater to it than in certainty the oil in Iraq. there is likewise something of the middle east.... and if the Iraqi's think of of the U.S. is easily leaving.... they're delusional.

Answer 3

The main reason for the war was to enforce the failed UN resolutions!!!! The mission accomplished was the removal of Saddam, and the job will not be completed until a stable democracy can be established!!!! It was never about the oil!!!!

Remember even the UN said there were WMDs along with most of Congress, and not once oil was mentioned as a reason for war!!!

Fuel prices are controlled by OPEC and are based on price of oil per barrel

Answer 4

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it very much about oil.

About 80% of the World's oil comes from Saudi Arabia, a country ruled by the family dynesty of the House of Saud, who unlike most other Arab leaders are good friends of the US.

The USA agrees to protect Saudi Arabia in times of conflict (like it did in the first Gulf War), and in return Saudia Arabia sells fairly cheap oil to the West.

In the mid-1970's when the rest of OPEC voted to withold oil from the West due to the Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia broke ranks and continued to supply both the USA and Europe with oil.

Whenever Lybia, Iran or Iraq is denied permission under UN sanctions to sell oil, the shortfall is normally made up by Saudia Arabia. Likewise, after the Gulf War when most of Kuwait's oil wells were destroyed by the fleeing Iraqi's, in stepped Saudi Arabia to make up the difference again (small though it was - less than 7% of oil comes from Kuwait).

However, one of the drawbacks of the Saudi regime is that its citizens tend to get rather fed up with the lack of democracy in the country, and as a result there is a strong likiehood that within the next 10 years Saudia Arabia might have to become more "democratic" i.e free elections.

This could lead to a deeply anti-Israeli government being elected (as tends to happen in the Arab countries), meaning a possible embargo or refusal by the new Saudi leaders to sell any more cheap oil to the USA.

Therefore another "supplier" is required. Step forward Iraq - currently 3rd in the table of "oil reserves" after Saudi Arabia and Iran.

One of the first things that the US negotiated with the interim Government in Iraq was an agreement securing "exploration rights" to large areas of the Iraqi oilfields to help offset the cost of liberating Iraq from Saddam.

Therefore it is about safe-guarding future oil supplies rather than current stocks, something that will become more important as oil reserves start to run out and the USA has to complete for dwindling stocks with the likes of China, India, etc.

If it was about liberating oppressed people from dictators then half the countries in Africa would have been invaded by now, but they haven't.

Dictators like Robert Muggabe have butchered more of their own people than Saddam ever did, but as Zimbabwe doesn't have anything of real value in large quantities no one cares.

Wars cost a lot of money..... Sad, but that is the reality.

Answer 5

It's a darn good thing I wasn't President. If so, after we beat Iraq in a war and owned them, I would have sent 1/2 the oil to the USA to keep the price down to about $ 0.60 a gallon, 1/4 for the cost of the war, and 1/4 for the iraq people and the country. and if France didn't like it, I would have invaded their sorry butt's too.

Answer 6

The war in Iraq was not about oil, but Saddam's refusal to abide by the 18 UN resolutions that were voted on. Wish that was the case about the oil wells being built.

Answer 7

And what made you think that getting the oil from Iraq by invasion concocted by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld would have make gas prices lower? The exact plan was to get the oil and make the likes of Bush and his cronies richer because they knew the government controlled addiction to oil that the Americans have.

Answer 8

The war in Iraq had nothing to do with oil.

Until now, and it is perfectly reasonable that the US should be concerned about protecting the world's oil supply.

Answer 9

Out of his own mouth Dumbya recently said so. But that doesn't mean it's for the benefit of you? and me?, the "average" American. It is for CONTROL of reserves for the Dumbya Coup and the crony companies like Halliburton, et al. And as usual in Dumbya's abysmally miserably failed career, because of horrendous screw ups, at present even this attempt at THEFT isn't working, unless it was INTENDED to fail?? Iraq is extracting LESS oil than pre US occupation. But ironically that gives the Dumbya oil companies a tight oil market for other oil and obscene windfall profits. Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!

Answer 10

The war was never about oil despite what the dems want you to believe. Saddam kept defying the UN, we thought he had weapons of mass destruction, not just Bush but the whole government.