Koppel: U.S. needs to stay in Iraq for the oil.
Koppel: U.S. needs to stay in Iraq for the oil.
Yesterday on ABC’s This Week roundtable, Ted Koppel said the U.S. needs to stay in Iraq because of the “huge amount of oil and natural gas there”:
KOPPEL: U.S. troops are in a part of the world that produces a huge amount of oil and natural gas. We will have U.S. troops in that region for years to come, whether we want to or not. … And with the price of oil going up to a 4.5 dollars a gallon, imagine what would happen to the price of oil if we precipitously pull troops out of the Persian Gulf. It’s not going to happen.
Watch it:
Koppel also suggested that the U.S. stay in Iraq to contain Iran. “You talked a little bit about Iran, and the dangers of Iran. This is not a time to say we’re going to pull all the U.S. troops out of there,” he said.
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Oil was around $20/barrel before the media willingly and gladly supported herr dubyah's unnecessary war.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:26 pmAnother Zionist on steroids.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:27 pmMission accomplished, indeed.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:29 pmSo the DFH were correct all along, weren't we? Oil and war are the reasons to invade Iraq, and the stated reasons for remaining in Iraq. Even the MSM says it out load.
I'll accept all the apologies from the nutjobs on the right side now. Just leave your warm wishes in this post and I'll consider your apology offered in good faith.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:29 pmDoes any of these idiots remember what the price of oil & gas was, BEFORE we invaded Iraq? Don't they see any connection between our being there, and the high price of oil?
The Bush administration has spent the past (almost) seven years appeasing Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden hated us for our freedoms, so Bush removed them. Bin Laden wanted $144-a-barrel oil, Bush obliged. And on, and on.
We REALLY need to leave Iraq....
July 7th, 2008 at 5:29 pmGee, really? Dumbasses aren't going to power my car with anything I can't steal from an aaarab. My doesn't it sound like the company store? The British East India company, Hudson's Bay company.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:29 pmthis is your america if you want it. but you have to enjoy stealing and killing. it is now mandatory and compulsory, not to be redundant again.
Actually, he doesn't say we "need" to stay. He says we will, and he's right; Obama is opposed to a precipitous exit, but perhaps for different reasons. When Koppel makes his statements about not pulling all troops out of Iraq, he is not saying anything contrary to what Barack Obama is saying, either.
Troll police, please note, I am not agreeing with Koppel. I'm merely pointing out a misleading headline.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:31 pmDr. Matt,
It was $22/bbl in 2001 and topped $143 Friday.
There are three main reasons for the increase in price; 1. The reduced value of the dollar, thanks to our massive debt, 2. The normal increase in demand by China, India and Japan, and 3. The political disruption in the ME.
And BushCo is responsible for 2 out of three of them.
With only the normal increase, it is estimated that the current price would be $45-$50/BBL.
So, worse case, we can blame BushCo for ohhhhh, say, $95/bbl on BushCo.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:32 pm"We will have U.S. troops in that region for years to come, whether we want to or not."
WTF?
Our soldiers are in Iraq because Bush and the neocons wanted them there.
The majority US public doesn;t want them there any more ( since 2006).
According to Koppel a "US troop presence in the region " is as permanent as the presence of the sun. How many troops Koppel, and what will their "presence" entail, exactly?
Iraq isn't a "presence",it's a goddamned occupation, of our' choice'.
"imagine what would happen to the price of oil if we precipitously pull troops out of the Persian Gulf"
..as compared to what happened as a result of going INTO THE PERSIAN GULF IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Koppel is talking out of his ass.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:33 pmHad W not been able to carry out his ill-begotten invasion and war/I wonder what the oil price would be today?
July 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pmOur being in Iraq is simply Armed Robbery writ large. It has always been about the oil...and thanks to the Bush-moron and his criminal sidekicks, we have and will continue to pay dearly for it.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:36 pmPeak Oil advocates love all this.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:38 pm...imagine what would happen to the price of oil if we precipitously pull troops out of the Persian Gulf.
Yeah, the price of oil would fall. The oil producing countries can either pour the oil in the sand or sell it. The problem with the latter from the point of view of the US administration is that US oil companies will not profit from that!
This is why the US won't leave Iraq until the US oil companies have long term contracts to exploit Iraq's oil reserves.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:38 pmSo, is Iraq an independent nation or are we a colonial power there? Koppel needs to answer that question. Today al Maliki said he favors a short term agreement with a time table for American forces to withdraw. The Pentagon responded by basically saying "over my dead body". http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080707/pl_afp/iraqunrestsecurityusmilitary_080707172421
These to items support America as a colonial power in Iraq.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:38 pmAnd it is why the US wants to attack Iran too. US oil companies were kicked out of Iran after the 1979 Iranian revoulution that toppled their dictator, the Shah.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:40 pmWhy do the 'serious' pundits always say that it will be worse if we leave. What possible 'worse' could get worse? If hundreds of Iraqi's are being bombed per month, how many would be bombed if we left? If oil is at $144.00 per barrell, how much - and why - would the cost increase?
The 'serious' kewl kids on the beltway have been wrong AT ALL TIMES beginning when they claimed Bush would be a uniter. They were wrong then and they remain wrong to this day - and all without any of them losing their jobs or reputation for being absolutely, comically wrong.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:43 pmWhether we leave Iraq or not, the price of oil is going to remain where it is - or higher. Saudi Arabia's oil minister has already said so, and honestly? Why should the price of oil come down? It's a resource that is most definitely getting more scarce - and more people want it, so that's pretty much it from now on.
If we get out of Iraq and focus on strengthening the dollar again, we might get some small amount of relief - but this is the future, people, and we had better get used to it.
Thanks, Chimpy. It might have taken a lot longer for the price of oil to reach this level - but you fixed that, didn't you?
July 7th, 2008 at 5:45 pmMarie Says:
Had W not been able to carry out his ill-begotten invasion and war/I wonder what the oil price would be today?
The estimates are $45-$50/BBL
July 7th, 2008 at 5:46 pmBINGO! They live in an echo chamber. This is seriously stupid stuff. If the U.S. military withdraws of course the price of oil will drop since we are the reason the country is destabilized in the first place.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:48 pmupside99 Says:
Marie Says:
Had W not been able to carry out his ill-begotten invasion and war/I wonder what the oil price would be today?
The estimates are $45-$50/BBL
Or howabout if our Ivy League edumacated preznit decided to wean us off all fossil fuels and became energy independant and green in the process? How about that?
We put a man on the moon in less than 10 years - and do you know why? There was money in it for all the contractors so they were gung ho about going to space. We got the 'impossible' accomplished and were the envy of the world.
Bush could have united the entire planet around our intention of ridding the world of green house gasses and a finite global resource - but he didn't.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:52 pmdebkakes: I’m merely pointing out a misleading headline.
No you aren't, deb. You are demonstrating a poor grasp of logic and algebra.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:52 pmHey upside,,, I'm rather liking my new FireFox...thanks for the 'nudge' :)
July 7th, 2008 at 5:55 pmToday: Iraqi government wants timeline for our troop withdrawal. And they don't say only combat:
http://enews.earthlink.net/article/int?guid=20080707/487194c0_3ca6_1552620080707-1017090911
July 7th, 2008 at 5:57 pmKeith Says:
Today: Iraqi government wants timeline for our troop withdrawal. And they don’t say only combat:
http://enews.earthlink.net/ article/ int?guid=20080707/ 487194c0_3ca6_1552620080707-1017090911
Why do Iraqis hate Iraq? They want us gone, but we won't leave. What do you call an invited guest who refuses your numerous requests to please leave? Why would we stay one moment longer than we are needed or requested to be there?
July 7th, 2008 at 6:00 pm5th Estate Says:
No worries! I just got tired of IE and found Firefox to be so much better and made my life simpler.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:00 pmStratRat,
Can you imagine where we would be now, if Gore had won? Oil would still be under $60, no war in Iraq, climate change would be addressed .... AND, we would be well on our way to several alternative energy programs.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:03 pmupside99 Says:
StratRat,
Can you imagine where we would be now, if Gore had won? Oil would still be under $60, no war in Iraq, climate change would be addressed …. AND, we would be well on our way to several alternative energy programs.
Yes I do. In those quiet moments, before sleep and just before the sun peaks over the horizon - if I try very hard, I can imagine all that you suggest. All those things were - and are possible, and we would be so far ahead. All those things could be, but will they?
July 7th, 2008 at 6:10 pmCouncil on Foreign Relations TRAITORS or NEOCONS won't have THEIR kids fighting for CHEVRON , not even PNAC apologists like and Israeli Firsters like Koppel , who don't mind if hundreds of thousands of ARABS die defending THEIR oil.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:14 pmYa Koppel , in case you didn't KNOW the oil in the middle east belongs to ARABS not jews, not U.S. corporations, so if want to behave like thieves , you will be treated like thieves .
But have balls to send YOUR kids to die for Chevron or BP , but you won't because zionist elites like you run your cowardly big mouths , dictating what others should do , like kill and die for U.S. & Israeli dominance of the middle east.
Moral bankruptcy is only thing you have Koppel , when you won't die for your beliefs and insist others do . Hope you rot in hell koppel , if there is one .
You go over there and fight for oil, Teddy. You could be such a good influence on the country, a real role model. Stay there for as long as it takes, G.I.Ted.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:25 pm"Koppel: U.S. needs to stay in Iraq for the oil."
Memo to Koppel: Don't you mean George and Dick need to stay in Iraq for the oil?
This whole cesspool of muck within the Sith Administration has always been about the oil!
July 7th, 2008 at 6:30 pmKoppel is right--but he's not talking about the same thing at all.
Nobody, but nobody, is talking about taking troops out of the Persian Gulf.
Jack Murtha's plan was to 'redeploy over the horizon.', meaning, amongst other things, Kuwait.
Safeguarding traffic through the Straits of Hormuz from attack is an important task and has ZERO to do with occupying Iraq.
Trying to tie the two together is deeply dishonest.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:32 pmHold the Republican Convention in Iraq and have Ted cover it.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:32 pmWhat do you call an invited guest who refuses your numerous requests to please leave?
Mother-in-Law?
July 7th, 2008 at 6:44 pmKeith Says:
What do you call an invited guest who refuses your numerous requests to please leave?
Mother-in-Law?
LOL...I was trying to stay serious, as this is a serious topic. But you ruined it for me and made me laugh. Thanks for that.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:51 pmDubya may not even get to keep his troops in Iraq til he slithers away. Now, wouldn't that be embarrassing to be thrown out before January.
What would McDepends do for a war to support, then?
HMMMMMMM
July 7th, 2008 at 6:55 pmI guess they would suggest moving next door to the heroin dealer for junkies' addiction. Can anyone think outside the box that Idiot-in-Chief has gotten us into?
July 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pmDemocrats are so out of touch with a public hooked on fossil fuel!
July 7th, 2008 at 7:10 pmWhen the war was popular, we should have been saying it was fine to send soldiers to die for oil.
Now that the public is bored with the war, we need to say that it's fine to ruin every bit of our wilderness and coastal beauty if it might reduce the price of a barrel of oil by $0.75 ten years from now.
After all, the Congressmen who do say this get their way, never mind what you might hear about "majorities."
We've had troops in Iraq for 5 years + and we've watched oil hit record prices while the oil companies laugh at us. Keeping troops in Iraq will do nothing for the price of oil. Haliburton is already rich and Cheney has already got those sweet stock options.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:13 pmTed's a real visionary, just like his good pal, Henry Kissinger.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pmHey lets give Koppel a gasoline and feather shower on a hot July afternoon. Love a good pork roast!
July 7th, 2008 at 7:31 pmDo all these wingnuts think we are as stupid as they are?
July 7th, 2008 at 7:50 pmA jewish lobby here.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pmSo it was all about oil?
Attacking another nation to take control of it's resources violates international law and standard ethics and morality.
Just because our President and VP are sociopaths who have no regard for laws, morality or ethicsdoesn't mean we need to continue down that road as a nation.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:26 pmIs it just me, or does Ted seem a bit slow? I've listened to his commentary on NPR and read some articles he has authored. He strikes me as somewhat simple-minded, someone who lacks any real insight. So considering that, I really don't think anyone should care what he says nor spend any time chatting about it.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:36 pmTed Koppel is wrong...
Gasoline was around $21:00 a gallon when Bush took over,with no war and we were not in Iraq,and there was plenty of oil ,now price per gallon touched $145:00 when we are now in Iraq.
That contradicts what Koppel is saying about price will go up if we leave Iraq.
War was not why we went to Iraq.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:36 pmSorry, meant:
oil was not why we went to Iraq
July 7th, 2008 at 8:39 pmBob Says:
I guess they would suggest moving next door to the heroin dealer for junkies’ addiction.
Addicts will lie, cheat, steal and sometimes resort to violence using weapons to feed their addiction.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:41 pmSound familiar?
How did we get here? Seriously? And more importantly, can we ever get back to normalcy? What, with the media being complicent in all of the crimes of this administration and helping McSame keep his "straight talking, maverick mantle. Can "reason" ever be restored, when the guy we all hung our hopes on is now willing to vote for telecomm immunity?
Or are we on the slide into oblivion?
July 7th, 2008 at 8:58 pm#41 kasinca Says:
Do all these wingnuts think we are as stupid as they are?
On the one hand, yes, because to them everyone who isn't 'Right' is stupid.
On the other hand no, because by their frame of reference everyone who isn't as stupid as them must be more stupid and to even entertain the notion that anyone who isn't 'Right' is in any way equal, even by the standards of their own stupidity, would be stupid. :)
July 7th, 2008 at 9:53 pm'RadRRadW',
How did we get here?
We were having a good time and just being mellow and then someone we’d never met before said hey let’s go for a ride and pick-up some more brews and we said sure, and then we all ended up in a ditch.
And more importantly, can we ever get back to normalcy?
If Normalcy has places to crash and sleep-off this major hangover, I sure hope we can get there.
Can “reason” ever be restored, when the guy we all hung our hopes on is now willing to vote for telecomm immunity?
Whoa, dude! Let’s start with getting a job at a living wage and worry about the existential issues later, okay?
Or are we on the slide into oblivion?
We’re just about to climb out of a real deep ditch, dude, don’t be so negative!
July 7th, 2008 at 10:07 pmAt a news conference, flanked by Hakim and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Ahmadinejad responded to U.S. accusations of Iranian intervention in Iraq by saying, "Iran has no need to intervene in Iraq. ... Isn't it ridiculous that those who have deployed 160,000 troops in Iraq accuse us of intervening there? (From the link)
Amen! I am so glad these guys are standing up.
Admittedly, I am no scholar on the different factions. But this seems like a good thing, and hopefully it kills the thepercenters' view of the admistration. Well that probably won't happen, but maybe someone will pay attention.
Someone who is more informed than me might tell me that this is a front (insert neo-con agenda here). I hope not.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:37 pmHmm, I should have been #52. Who got flagged? I didn't see anything...
July 7th, 2008 at 10:38 pm.
Koppel thinks our "staying in Iraq" will keep the price of oil down... as demonstrated by the effect our presence in the Middle East, over the last seven years, has already shown...
... NO?
Who was keeping the oil prices down BEFORE George Worst Bush riled up in the Middle East?
... TROLLS?
.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:13 amWhat a surprise! A millionaire gas bag whose former news show that promoted right of center "conventional wisdom" wants to stay in Iraq for the oil? Shocked, I tell you, shocked!
July 8th, 2008 at 7:57 amKoppel thinking of a job at Foxnews?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:34 am5th Estate, Thanks for trying to lighten me up but I do think we are on a very slippery slope when in today's thinkfast thread it says even against much bipartisan opposition the bill is expected to pass. How can something as bad as that be expected to pass and no one is out marching in the street?
July 8th, 2008 at 9:55 amTed=Fascist New World Order Guy
There are no fascists in heaven.
Thank God for that.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:02 amAs I said over here (http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/24/beckel-oil-iraq/) during the "The IRAQIS OWE US" discussion:
G Money 2008 Says:
I’ve got an idea!
After President Obama pulls all of the troops out of Iraq, then the major oil corporations, can hire the major security contractors that are already there, and spend some of the BILLIONS of dollars of their profit to ensure their own security and stop gauging the American People TWICE - Once for Gas and Twice for Billions of Dollars in squandered tax money, that is going to protect oil interests around the world, most notably in IRAQ, EVERY DAY!
I was thinking about the "Iraquis Owe Us..." comment last night. I sent an email to Mr. Beckel today to point out how much the Iraquis "owe us".
***
Mr. Beckel, what do you think the IRAQUIS owe us? Let's put you in a similar situation.
Mr. Beckel - you live in a rural family town... pretty much everyone in the town is a relative. Your abusive grandfather is the mayor. The feds come in and arrest, try and execute your grandfather for his abuses. In the meantime, the feds and other outsiders (that your abusive Grandfather had mostly kept out) come in and burn down the homes, release all of the animals, rape the women, fire all of the employees of any businesses there, arrest some other relatives for helping your Grandfather all those years, send anyone not killed or jailed fleeing to other towns and states, leave behind toxic waste, and create a war zone in the vacuum of no family.
Oh, and did I mention the town is sitting on a very large oil reserve.
What does your family owe the outsiders again?
***
I'm awaiting a response.
.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm