Location: On an Island in the west coast of New England
Posts: 13,132
Did Big Oil profit by the war?
I was thinking this morning about how we got to the sorry state we are in with regard to the war on terrorism. How could the most sophisticated technically advanced country on the face of the earth, bungle all aspects of this war other than the invasion. How could our Intel be so flawed allowing us the excuse to invade Iraq in defiance of the UN and most of the rest of the free world? Why has Bush pushed his war agenda from the beginning and now so strongly at a time when most of Capitol Hill have gone on record in opposition? Is there more to the story or is it just foreign policy gone badly due to poor leadership and/ or miscalculations? Do record profits from Big Oil have anything to do with it?
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Too busy with fishing to spend much time here.
Big oil profits from any bad news. It could be unrest anywhere in the world, a hurricane, a winter storm, etc....Any bad news is good news for big oil. All they need is a hint of something bad and profits soar. Funny how good news has little or at best a trickle down effect.
Didn't the Bush haters say the warwas all about oil in the sense of increasing our supplies and driving DOWN the cost? Clearly that doesn't reconcile with what has happened to theprice of oil, and contradicts any notion thatthe war is positively correlated with big oil profits.
Funny the fact we havent been hit since 9-11 tells me the war on terrorism is working perfectly, yet you think isnt. Maybe the goals for the war are different between us.
"Bungle all aspects"-- you know when you blanket statement like this it kinda belittles the rest of your posts.
IMO GWB per constitution, needs to use the govt powers to protectour country, I think he has done a good job with that. No the borders arent perfect and neither are the ports but zero bombs going off on our soil is a good thing. Im sure you'll explain how its not though.
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"What do you mean I ain't kind? Just not your kind."
Successful businesses general make profits regardless of war or peace. Unless Americans start riding bikes around, Big Oil will profit as long as there's oil period.
Location: On an Island in the west coast of New England
Posts: 13,132
RE: Did Big Oil profit by the war?
No my point was that I understand oil prices and profits appear to be driven by supply and demand. My thoughts were that the war must be impacting that relationship. War energy use must be astronomical when you compare it with peace time energy use by the military. It was just a thought.My use of the term bungling the war effort is just my way of saying what I feel. I am glad we haven't been hit since 911 and realize that efforts to keep us safe on the home front has been a high priority from this administration. I feel very lucky that we haven't been hit again. If it happened again tomorrow I wouldn't be shocked. I hope not"¦ but the reality is such that there is no sure fire way to guarantee our protection. The porous borders that are ignored are just another way we can be attacked. I voted for Bush on both elections but I wouldn't vote for him today. I don't think his administration has been effective with our foreign policy. Is our standing in the world community better or worse than it was in 2000? I can't remember a period of time when politics and partisanship stood in the way of running the country more than the present. I don't see where he is doing a good job and many other people share my sentiment. I read in the paper today that 40 different towns in this state have a ballot item on the next town meeting agenda to vote on impeaching the president. I come from big business and relate the running of any government to a business. When things go wrong the shareholders revolt and changes are made. I wouldn't say Bush has been a good president just because we haven't been attacked again. Spending is out of control, we are in a war that is unpopular, and government is larger than ever. The corruption on Capitol Hill is just the tip of the iceberg. Is it that they are more corrupt or we are getting better at catching them? I don't know but I don't like the way things are going. Bush is our CEO and I don't see a sign saying the buck stops here!
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Too busy with fishing to spend much time here.
I hear you, and your points are quite valid. My 'gung ho or die' mentality doesn't always address every issue affecting Americans today, and I appreciate your thoughts.
Although many feel that Big Business controls the strings in DC, I again have tostress exactly what kind of impact the voting public has on our government. I see and hear about so many who just give in to apathy because they just don't want to exert the energy necessary to throw out the clowns in Congress and elsewhere in government. We've done it before, and we can do it again...if we stop slinging mud at each other.
Business is business, and it will be the same the rest of our time on earth. The buck stops with the people who pull the levers each November. That's the bottom line. Business are driven by success and profit, and they will work together to ensure the completion of those goals. Americans have to get their heads out of their sand and stop attacking each other if we're going to be capable of the same level of success. Attacking or hindering business really won't change jack squat.
Also, we're hated around the world, but we're also loved around the world. Think of the love-hate relationship concept, only on larger, more diplomatic terms. Twenty years ago people aligned with East or West. Now there's just West and some Eastern wannabes. Until there are twopolesin the international power struggle, chances are we're going to mocked and ridiculed by those out of power for a long, long time.
Location: On an Island in the west coast of New England
Posts: 13,132
RE: Did Big Oil profit by the war?
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ORIGINAL: Duckbutter48
Funny the fact we havent been hit since 9-11 tells me the war on terrorism is working perfectly, yet you think isnt. Maybe the goals for the war are different between us.
The war on terrorism working perfectly??? Pull your head out of the sand and take a couple of breaths...it will clear your head Ducky. We have 3000+ deaths and over 21,000 wounded and if you consider that working perfectly I have a bridge to sell you. I can buy the Afghanistan invasion as a show of forcein the region but not Iraq. It wasn't needed at the time because we were already in a conflict next door and the Iraqi regime wasn't a direct threat to our country. True... diplomacy wasn't working but IMO that wasn't a reason to start a war.
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"Bungle all aspects"-- you know when you blanket statement like this it kinda belittles the rest of your posts.
I call them like I see them. Free speech just like you enjoy. The invasion was a showcase of modern military might that was truly amazing. What followed is reminiscent of the early 70's in Viet Nam. During that time and earlier I was of draft age and served my country. We had the capacity to win that war hands down but politics always tied us up over the terms of 3 or 4 presidents. In the early 60's it was gung ho and we were in a military buildup with the public behind us. By 1970 it had become an unpopular war with the general public and there were protests and political posturing much like today. I was there then and today is eerily similar. That was the worst time in my life and a bad time for our country.Energy shortages followed and the gas lines were something I hope we never see again but I expect them.
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IMO GWB per constitution, needs to use the govt powers to protectour country, I think he has done a good job with that. No the borders arent perfect and neither are the ports but zero bombs going off on our soil is a good thing. Im sure you'll explain how its not though.
I agree with this. I do feel safer today than I did just after 911 and the work that Homeland Securitydoes has shown positive results. No bombs going off on our homeland is indeed a bonus. I pray to God this good fortune continues. But.......in my heart I realize how easily terrorists could act against us. We still live and act in a free and open society and that in itself makes us vulnerable. Personally I would rather live like this than in a bubble.
Thanks for the dialogue though"¦ it is always nice to understand the other side of the debate and learn.
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Too busy with fishing to spend much time here.
Funny the fact we havent been hit since 9-11 tells me the war on terrorism is working perfectly, yet you think isnt.
Lol, is that what it tells you?
Thats like saying that since an atomic bomb hasnt been used since WWII, the threat of nuclear warfare is over.
Eight years had elapsed since the first bombing of the World Trade Center, when 9/11 had occurred. You're logic is ridiculous, while at the same time you ignore a host of other factors.
Our border "aren't perfect?" Our ports? Yet we pour hundreds of billions that we do not have into a giant overheated cat litter box halfway around the globe, are mired in a bloody police effort between three or more factions of corrupt people that hate each other and hate us, have no end in sight, we're utterly broke, find outselves negotiating with a cagey and corrupt government which we bargained for, are accomplishing next to nothing aside from ousting a dictator for a people who could care less, and you say someone will "explain how its not enough?"
Did Big Oil profit by the war?
