¡No me digas!
Jul 12th, 2007, 12:05 pm
Surprise, surprise. Securing energy resources in the Middle East has played a key role in Australia’s involvement in the American-led invasion of Iraq and the subsequent occupation of the the country:
Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has admitted that securing oil supplies is a key factor behind the presence of Australian troops in Iraq.
He said maintaining “resource security” in the Middle East was a priority.
But PM John Howard has played down the comments, saying it was “stretching it a bit” to conclude that Australia’s Iraq involvement was motivated by oil.
Wait, there’s more:
In comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Nelson admitted that the supply of oil had influenced Australia’s strategic planning in the region.
“Obviously the Middle East itself, not only Iraq but the entire region, is an important supplier of energy, oil in particular, to the rest of the world,” he said.
“Australians and all of us need to think what would happen if there were a premature withdrawal from Iraq.
“It’s in our interests, our security interests, to make sure that we leave the Middle East, and leave Iraq in particular, in a position of sustainable security.”
So you’re telling me that Australia and the rest of the “Coalition of the Willing” may have put their troops in danger in a faraway country they probably could care less about not to bring democracy, Wal-Mart, and 50 Cent’s latest album but to get a share of the loot? That’s absurd.
Let’s not be naive here. Securing energy resources is a matter of national concern for all countries, especially developed and newly industrializing nations, so we really shouldn’t be shocked when one country wants to invade another to ensure its survival and well-being. Clearly, we need something to fuel our cars, power our factories, heat our homes, and run our PlayStation3s. But it would just be nice if country A said to country B, “Hey, we need some oil to keep our economy going, so I’m gonna invade your country and take it. Okay?”
Whatever happened to the good ol’ days of colonialism? At least the Europeans made it obvious that they wanted to suck the resources and labor out of the darker-skinned people of the world while they were kind enough to teach them the ways of the white man in return. Everyone was a winner!
Thanks, iMuslim, for the link.