02-21-2003, 07:48 PM
Try to peel back a few more layers of the onion. The 1990 and 1991 action took into account long term predictions about what happens in the Persian Gulf region if the annexation of Kuwait was allowed to stand.
1. Iraqi economy, in big debt due to 8 year war with Iran, a war that Saddam started, gets more money faster and heals. All to the good, if the economy was not a war economy to begin with. I once again remind our readers here: in 1991, the fourth largest Army on the planet belonged to Saddam Hussein. It was an army built for conquest, not self defense. It was pretty well trained, and very well equipped with good Russian equipment. Say what you like about the Gulf War, but the Russians build good tanks and pretty darned decent tactical aircraft.
2. Iraq/Saddam's influence on the international oil market becomes greater, to where his influence trumps King of Saudi Arabia. He can flood the market with oil and basically put a lot of western countries and non Arab countries and their oil businesses, which typically pay more per barrel to pump oil out of the ground, into the red to where their oil reserves start to go untapped.
3. This puts the price of oil into a regime where other market forces are more influenced by it. I remind our readers once again of the 1973 embargo. When the Arabs acted together, they put a slam dunk pinch on our economy. No president is going to let someone do that to the American economy, or the global economy, again if he has half a brain. Using oil as an economic weapon influences billions of people due to the simple fact that the world, all of it, has yet to wean itself from the teat of the oil well. Alternative energy, dammit, where are you?
4. The known goals of Saddam Hussein to be the One Hegemonic Power in the Mid East were well known in the mid to late 80's. The Kuwaiti oil revenue represented an ability for him to be able to fund that vision to its logical conclusion.
5. Every other Arab nation in the area knew that the bully on the block had just bought a Glock. They looked for the cops, and George Bush led the rest of the UN in showing up.
Auto makers? Hah. 1991 was not about auto makers, it was about people in the Northeast, and NEW YORK not having to pay 5.00 per gallon for heating oil in the winter. :P
1. Iraqi economy, in big debt due to 8 year war with Iran, a war that Saddam started, gets more money faster and heals. All to the good, if the economy was not a war economy to begin with. I once again remind our readers here: in 1991, the fourth largest Army on the planet belonged to Saddam Hussein. It was an army built for conquest, not self defense. It was pretty well trained, and very well equipped with good Russian equipment. Say what you like about the Gulf War, but the Russians build good tanks and pretty darned decent tactical aircraft.
2. Iraq/Saddam's influence on the international oil market becomes greater, to where his influence trumps King of Saudi Arabia. He can flood the market with oil and basically put a lot of western countries and non Arab countries and their oil businesses, which typically pay more per barrel to pump oil out of the ground, into the red to where their oil reserves start to go untapped.
3. This puts the price of oil into a regime where other market forces are more influenced by it. I remind our readers once again of the 1973 embargo. When the Arabs acted together, they put a slam dunk pinch on our economy. No president is going to let someone do that to the American economy, or the global economy, again if he has half a brain. Using oil as an economic weapon influences billions of people due to the simple fact that the world, all of it, has yet to wean itself from the teat of the oil well. Alternative energy, dammit, where are you?
4. The known goals of Saddam Hussein to be the One Hegemonic Power in the Mid East were well known in the mid to late 80's. The Kuwaiti oil revenue represented an ability for him to be able to fund that vision to its logical conclusion.
5. Every other Arab nation in the area knew that the bully on the block had just bought a Glock. They looked for the cops, and George Bush led the rest of the UN in showing up.
Auto makers? Hah. 1991 was not about auto makers, it was about people in the Northeast, and NEW YORK not having to pay 5.00 per gallon for heating oil in the winter. :P
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the Men 'O War!
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete