Before moving forward with the Nirvana narrative, I would like to explain my admittedly provocative statement that it was apparent, way back in 1991, at the dawn of our extra-sovereign Middle East military involvement––as smart bombs flew over Baghdad--that we would be drawn into a Vietnam-like (worse, I would argue) quagmire.
The concept is simple––you have a well connected, not-as-oil-rich as the neighbors Iraqi government invading a de facto state, Kuwait, that was carved up by Western powers 50 years ago as a way of better partitioning and controlling oil wealth.
Say what you will about Sadaam Hussein's treatment of the Kurds, very few casualties resulted from the strong man's 'annexation' of Kuwait. Oil was ready to resume pumping at pre invasion rates within weeks, as Sadaam was undoubtedly banking it would. Instead, with mucho aerial firepower, "tied to the oil industry at the hip" George Bush Sr., undoubtedly influenced by high-powered Houston executives, decided that a middle finger deserved a whole can of "whoop-ass."
Except that the humiliation was never forgotten, particularly by highly placed oil sheiks who saw Desert Storm as a continuance of the type of Western overstepping that had carved Israel from sovereign Palestinian territory post World War Two. If those who were deeply offended by the US action, as well as the family members of those incinerated in the desert, were in no position to attack in a traditional manner––well assassins have not been been unknown in the Middle East since Biblical times. Eye for an eye, Trojan Horse and all that.
Presto, 9-11 happened. Al Queda, ISIS... the sooner we put these pieces together and realize what a huge quagmire has formed--and the root causes---the better.
Amazing how much trust we place in those who are against our best interests, as citizens of a relatively peaceful and stable world. Unless we believe in nuclear obliteration as the ultimate leveling force... which it is.
#endurancewriter
The concept is simple––you have a well connected, not-as-oil-rich as the neighbors Iraqi government invading a de facto state, Kuwait, that was carved up by Western powers 50 years ago as a way of better partitioning and controlling oil wealth.
Say what you will about Sadaam Hussein's treatment of the Kurds, very few casualties resulted from the strong man's 'annexation' of Kuwait. Oil was ready to resume pumping at pre invasion rates within weeks, as Sadaam was undoubtedly banking it would. Instead, with mucho aerial firepower, "tied to the oil industry at the hip" George Bush Sr., undoubtedly influenced by high-powered Houston executives, decided that a middle finger deserved a whole can of "whoop-ass."
Except that the humiliation was never forgotten, particularly by highly placed oil sheiks who saw Desert Storm as a continuance of the type of Western overstepping that had carved Israel from sovereign Palestinian territory post World War Two. If those who were deeply offended by the US action, as well as the family members of those incinerated in the desert, were in no position to attack in a traditional manner––well assassins have not been been unknown in the Middle East since Biblical times. Eye for an eye, Trojan Horse and all that.
Presto, 9-11 happened. Al Queda, ISIS... the sooner we put these pieces together and realize what a huge quagmire has formed--and the root causes---the better.
Amazing how much trust we place in those who are against our best interests, as citizens of a relatively peaceful and stable world. Unless we believe in nuclear obliteration as the ultimate leveling force... which it is.
#endurancewriter
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