Aside from the $8.8 billion dollars that mysteriously disappeared during the first weeks of the Iraqi invasion, (I refuse to even dignify BushCo's desert adventure by using the original altruistic-sounding appellation: "Operation Iraqi Freedom") everything that has happened in Iraq, and is happening now, has gone exactly as planned. If you're part of the neocon cabal propped up by AIPAC, PNAC, the Carlyle Group and the James A. Baker III, Institute, that is. More below.
While, I'll admit the first part (the reason why $8.8 billion dollars disappeared part) of the above paragraph, (and below) is my own speculative analysis, the second part is beautifully and accurately laid out in excruciating detail in two new articles now available online. The first link below takes you to The RollingStone online article entitled: "Iran: The Next War." It is James Bamford's exclusive indictment of BushCo in the September issue and just so happens to be the best article I've read so far on the subject. It really lays it all out quite nicely - and names, names.
rollingstone.com
And, here's the Palast article, an excerpt from "The Armed Madhouse:" "The Jerk: Why Saddam Had to Go."
gregpalast.com
Between Bamford's indicting exposé on the treasonous run-up to war and the gutsy investigative reporting (on the "big oil" aspect) by Greg Palast, it all sounds so easy. Almost like it was meant to be all along. No wonder the Republicans hounded Bill Clinton from the day he stepped into the Oval Office. He was in the way. After all, time is money.
Here's the gist...
They really lucked out. It's a wonderful thing the absence of oversight. It appears as though the aforementioned billions turned out to be an opportunistic but purely unexpected bonus to wet their collective whistle - courtesy of Paul Bremer and some very creative bean counters. Subsequently, the behind-the-scenes bilking of billions acted as extra-added incentive to carry through with the now notorious and bloody (especially if you're an Iraqi) coup d'état to oust Saddam Hussein - as if they needed more motivation. After all, the cabal got to push around tanks, tens-of-thousands of U.S. troops, and hundreds of armored Humvees all around the war map this time out, not to mention get stinkin' rich at the same time. Hell, this time, they wouldn't even need the service of SCOTUS to complete their dastardly deed.
Yep, it truly was a diabolical plan - an ingenious plan - a big-profit, far-reaching plan with deadly side consequences. (again, especially if you're an Iraqi) In fact it was a seemingly perfect plan. Why the hell not kill four birds with one stone, i.e., appeasing the neocons, (who were whining incessantly for the inauguration of the New World Order) granting the delusional wishes of the apocalyptic religious right, (by now goo-goo eyed and salivating at the concept of WWIII and the imminent, imaginary rapture) and last but certainly not least, jump-starting the burgeoning military/industrial complex - separately, known in their former lives as the nefarious big oil and the iniquitous defense industry.
Ok, to give BushCo and the neocon cabal a small but multi-faceted caveat, they probably really didn't expect that we'd lose so many of our troops during the grand acquisition. (I'm giving BushCo the benefit of the doubt here, btw) And, they possibly could've underestimated the still-percolating ill-will felt by the world community. BUT, there ain't NO way in HELL they thought the Iraqi oil would even come close to funding the greed filled debacle. I draw the line there. Nope, not even close. They KNEW it wouldn't pay for the war or the reconstruction for years! Cheney knew. Rummy knew. Bremer knew. Feith knew. Zalmay Khalilzad knew and Wolfie certainly knew. Bush probably didn't have a clue either way. The enabler-in-chief just signed zee papers. But even Dubbya knew the U.S. Treasury (re: the American people) would have to foot the bill.
Greg Palast talked to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yesterday on his radio show: Air America's "Ring of Fire." I urge everyone to give it a listen. Truly enlightening.
Here's the link...
gregpalast.com
Happy reading!