Wednesday 28 August 2013

Syrian misadventure is not about resources

Whenever it comes to war in the Middle East, which sadly has been the case fro many years now, indeed all of my adult life, the main accusation that comes from the left-wing is that the US and UK are only in it for the money.

Somehow some unsubstantiated claim is made that it is all about oil and security of energy prices that makes the West take actions to target and murder women and children. I have never taken this theory very seriously as no evidence is ever truly thrown up in its defence. Perhaps the one time it could have been true in 1991 and the First Gulf War, which did see prices drop, was the one time the whole international community was in harmony about the reasons and justification for the war!

Nevertheless, in Parliament today or tomorrow the likes of Diane Abbott will stand up and say this is all about oil or gas. Syria produced a mere 385,000 barrels of oil a day - it is hardly a blip on the middle eastern radar of oil producing countries; Iraq is trying to increase production by more than this each year. gas fields of 9 TCF are proven but not yet exploited. Again 9TCF is not tiny, but hardly competes with American shale gas. And this is the point, America may soon become a net energy exporter, the proposition that it would go to war with Syria to secure oil and gas supplies therefore moves beyond even the fanciful to the downright deranged. The USA and the UK could lose more by antagonising Russia and its supplies that it could ever gain in Syria. So let's hope in the debate to come that this hoary old chestnut is not raised.

Finally, don't read the above as a blessing for intervention, in a nasty civil war which is symptomatic of a wider Islamic civil war between Sunni/Shia and Wahhabi/Moderate visions of society I doubt we can make any difference. I would also wait until there is real proof Asad did this as the suspicion must be it was the rebels who have far more to lose and have admitted using chemical weapons in the recent past. I don't see at the moment what we hope to achieve by intervention.

25 comments:

Bill Quango MP said...

Glad you posted this. The 'its oil' has been flying around the twitter all week.
Its used to explain western involvement in Libya, Iraq 1+2, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and the Falklands. {Though Bosnia and the Balkans never get a mention for some reason.}
Its the automatic, unthinking,goto response. I even heard one commentator saying we are NOT going to attack because Syria doesn't have enough oil and The UK/USA {which are joined at the hip and might as well be one country, even though the US stayed away from Libya} only get involved in oil rich nations like Libya.

The other response is 'its none of our business' and we have 'no involvement with Syria and never have had.'

Which isn't quite true. We did fight a war there. 4500 casualties on the commonwealth side. 6500 on the Vichy.

hovis said...

It's obviously not about Syria's oil or gas, All part of the modern re-enactment of great game. Alternatively part of the military industrial complex supporting of fractional reserve ponzi (copyright ZH). I think you are being unambiious when looking for rationales :-)

Btw I think it is utter madness, to get involved. We have no skin in the game. Cameron truly heir to Blair in his stupidity and vanity. I have never known a war ever be fought for moral reasons, despite the propaganda. Have you seen the UN inspectors are to look to see if not who usedthe weapons, cui bono...

Nick Drew said...

no doubt you've seen this in the DTel

"Saudi Arabia has secretly offered Russia a sweeping deal to control the global oil market and safeguard Russia’s gas contracts, if the Kremlin backs away from the Assad regime in Syria"

a great one for conspiracy theorists

O'Brien said...

Talking of conspiracies there was this in the Daily Mail (29/01/2013)about a leaked email from Halliburton owned UK defense contractor Britam.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270219/U-S-planned-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-Syria-blame-Assad.html

No longer available but go to the 29th Jan in the Way Back machine - the internet Archive and search on the above link ...you see the article until you dont..

http://archive.org/web/web.php

What larks Pip...

Timbo614 said...

Last night's BBC news item on Syria was hauntingly familiar to similar broadcasts concerning Iraq and WMD. Almost the same rhetoric and phrases, the build up and steering of the public's perceptions sounds and feels the same. It does not bode well.

Personally I think we should keep our noses out, but then, errm, we are "Great" Britain and Cameron the PM of the (once) Great Britain. Non-Western attitudes and actions and reasoning(if there is any) must be stamped on by the "great and good" of Britain if necessary.

Where have all the flowers gone....

CityUnslicker said...

Plus Cameron would be really popular to say no - like Blair doing privatisations. A Tory saying no to the yanks would be richard curtis' wet dream.

there are just so many reasons to stay out...

Demetrius said...

The Financial Crimes, following the money suggests that it is a matter of whether the proposed Qatari pipeline to Europe might or might not go ahead to compete with the Russian

andrew said...

Lawrence of Arabia is having a posthumous 'i told you so' decade.

Unknown said...

Interesting and amazing how your post is! It Is Useful and helpful for me That I like it very much, and I am looking forward to Hearing from your next..
www.antwerprailschool.org |

Unknown said...

I like the way you described the topic with such clarity. Thanks for Describing Everything.
hotel-travel-america |

Unknown said...

Very interesting article. I would love to read the book “Start with Why”, by Simon Sinek. I think he has taken a great topic to deal with. Teaching leaders to inspire others is a good idea to bring up a civilized society. Thanks for sharing. Keep posting.
www.autoverkade.com |

Unknown said...

With a lot of secrets out there people can never deny why there are so many inspectors.
www.estrumat.org |

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this information. I really like your blog post very much. You have really shared a informative and interesting blog post with people.. https://www.luckies.co.uk

Greengeeks coupons said...

I really like the way of your explanation and dedication towards this article.

Unknown said...

Hi Krishnan, that’s great! I’ve never cited Tolkein beofre but that fits perfectly in the case of ‘…but some of my best friends are’.
jackrabbithealth |

healthcity-tiendaonline |

homeschoolersforken |

ronthomhome4sale |

paradise-house |

sddollhouse |

dollhousesd |

homewoodappliancerepair |

myhouseforkids |

birdwatchinghouse |

Unknown said...

A good point Ralph, but I believe people are going to have a hard time defending prejudice when the possibility of answering certain kinds of questions with much greater precision increases
computersupportetc |

miamitechnocentral |

emrsoftwaresite |

leadcubetechnologies |

stonewedgetechnology |

cadtechlabs |

hospital-logiserve |

cardiologiefitness |

mens-health-france |

menshealthfrance |

Unknown said...

Write mega, thats all I have to clear. sbobet Just, it seems as equal proviso you relied by the video to dispose your point. You evidently compose outdated what youre talking about, why lob passed on your intelligence by without delay relocation videos to your weblog when you could follow charitable us impressive enlightening to read?
speedanycar |

anycarzone |

redbellfood |

foodsteplearning |

notchfood |

ideafestivalfood |

sportsmeetsfood |

food-and-living |

qbelfood |

boisefoodstorage |

Cid Croston said...

That was a very beautiful poem about nature especially about the everlasting power Sun. The title “Sun flakes” itself felt apt for the poem. I had a great time reading the poem. Thanks a lot for such a nice post. Please keep sharing
thefirmforpets |

myagingpets |

youragingpets |

animalexposures |

coolpetslive |

monamiepetservices |

parkanimalfb |

petseminar |

execu-car |

icelandautorental |

Unknown said...

Great story:) Makes these characters alive. Are you thinking to make this sword little longer, as it is presented on the poster?
tma-realestate |

bendorrealestate |

realestatemarketnews |

realestateorcas |

realestatemichigan |

barnettrealestate |

valenciarealestate |

nearusrealestate |

cuvierparkweddings |

sedonaweddingcakes |

Raza abbas said...

I m saving your blog in my personal folder to visit again You made legal points within this article that I sense need further examination. I agree with most all of this info. amazing work.
buy fashion tape

Unknown said...

Thanks for share that type blog. Many people like that blogs... bus rental Jersey City

Unknown said...

loads of blogs are going under lately from lack of new posts etc . manažérske kurzy

Unknown said...

Brief but very precise information� Thanks for sharing this one. A must read post! Toronto Airport Limo

Unknown said...

Thanks a lot for sharing this with the vast majority of us you truly really really really know what you are discussing! Patent Attorney Naples

Recruitment search firms said...

Thanks for these cheap gift ideas. I always feel like I need to get good gifts for everyone but I can't afford for them to be expensive. This list of gifts was really helpful and I will make sure and remember these for the next time I need to get a gift for someone. I really liked these gifts because they were really meaningful and would be really fun to receive.Recruitment search firms