The Real Purpose of US Mid-East Policies

"As a general rule for understanding public policies, I insist that there are no persistent 'failed' policies....If you want to know why the U.S. policies have been what they have been for the past sixty years, you need only comply with that invaluable rule of inquiry in politics: follow the money."

Full article at:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/higgs/higgs54.html

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

Robert Higgs never says what the real policy is.

Andrew J. Bacevich maintains it's about US reliance on Persian oil. Which it patently isn't. So what is the real policy?

Again, READING COMPREHENSION PEOPLE. If you'll notice he says in the beginning "Dear Professor Bacevich, I enjoyed reading your January 29 article in TAC. (then...)

I differ with your views, however, in two regards."

So......... He agrees with Bacevich except with what he specifically makes reference to in his own article.


It is a huge factor.

There are other issues as well - such as our military alliance and weapon sales to Israel. And our desire to play empire and spread our military bases over as much territory as possible.

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

I did follow the article previously. But the US does not rely upon Persian Oil and never has.

http://www.pi.energy.gov/pdf/library...yPictureII.pdf

The US petrolium products come from South and central America.

Now those issues I do believe are true add to that the control of Pesian Oil but never reliance or dependence. Which was addressed slighly by Robert Higgs. My COMPREHENSION is very good it was the word dependence that was the sticking point Robert Higgs offered no evidence.

Robert Higgs talks of jobs in Iran, what jobs does the US have people working out there? Weapons sales to Israel will also occur without the need to involve Iran. Empire building was not addressed.

This really brings your credibility into question. Here are several different credible sources that say the U.S. has a dependence on oil from the Middle East:

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/testi...mony051020.pdf

http://www.iags.org/n1020032.htm

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/...ael/usoil.html

http://www.anwr.org/features/issues/energy-nat.htm

http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol2/v2n4oil_body.html

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FC11Ak02.html

http://www.meforum.org/article/1055

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

The reliance of The US on Foreign Oil is not questioned. But the US does no rely on Persian Oil.

petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 16.9%, China 11.2%, Italy 5.9%, South Korea 5.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.4%, South Africa 4.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 13.9%, UAE 8.4%, China 8.3%, Italy 7.1%, France 6.3%, South Korea 5.4%, Russia 4.9% (2005)

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications...k/geos/ir.html

The Albertan Oil Sands are coming on line, Most US oil is from South America.

US 16.8%, Japan 16.5%, South Korea 9.3%, China 7.1%, Singapore 5.2%, Taiwan 4.3% (2005)

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications...k/geos/sa.html

Saudi Arabia is a trading partner but not Persia.

And he states that in the article in regards to Persian Gulf Oil...

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

All he does state is about a few jobs but the US doesn't have people working in Persia.

He says it’s about keeping big paying Jobs what Jobs?

He then talks about oil, specifically Persian Oil on the world market. But the US buys South American Oil very little on the spot market.

Robert Higgs

He says who he believes control policies but not what the policies are or their purpose.

So I ask again

"The Real Purpose of US Mid-East Policies"

Or is that it?

If it is then I would disagree. Money is like any other commodity traded in for power but power for what ends. Terrorists use funds to purchase arms etc to gain power.

Sorry I can't see the acquisition of cash as being the reason.

"All wars are fought for money" - Socrates

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"Duty is the most sublime word in our language. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less." - Robert E. Lee

Well socrates got it wrong.

All wars are fought for power and influence using money. Me 17 feb 2007.