I had a few uncles who worked in the cole gascation business, they use
to say we have enough in the US and Canada to supply both countries very
reasonable, instead of going over to Iraq and demanding.  Part of the
problem is that we have families with sometimes 6 vehicles, 1 for each
family member, and a boat and jet skis also.

Thanks,
Anthony

Visit me at http://www.anthonyarnold.net/

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kat
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 2:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: part of my cousin's letter

Actually, I've heard it's more like 12% of our oil comes from the Mid
East.  In any case, invading Iraq for its oil makes no economic sense
whatsoever.

Per CNN:

'America depends on Middle East oil for about 12 percent of its oil
supply, especially Saudi Arabia, which now pumps an average of 8 million
barrels into the market a day.'

Kat

-------Original Message-------
From: "Barber, Kenneth L." <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 03/11/03 03:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: part of my cousin's letter

>
>  well, we get only 20% of our oil from the middle east. we get the
most
from
canada, mexico, north sea, even vensuala, mag. if we are about oil, we
need
to invade canada. an again it is cheaper to buy oil at 15.00 a barrel
than
to start a war, drive the prices up to 40.00 a barrel and then to pay
maybe
100. billion for the war. the money angle i think is the strongest
reason
to
reject the "it the oil" thing. money talks and i assure you that
everybody
listens, even the most pure of us and them listens.

the NY Times is hardly the baston of truth.

and lets see 9-11 happened "before or after" they gave their votes.
hmm...
things did change did they not?

-----Original Message-----
From: Magenta Raine
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 3/10/2003 11:05 PM
Subject: part of my cousin's letter

IV.  There is abundant evidence that economic and geo-political motives
are=20
driving this war, with control of oil and oil profits at the top of the
list=
.=20

Since Administration stated reasons for war ("Saddam is evil and might
use=20
weapons of mass destruction") don't add up, it is essential in a
democracy=20
that we understand what might be other Administration objectives.
The=20
Administration's "real" objectives have to do with the strategic
importance=20
of the Middle East, our long-standing desire to control it's oil
resources,=20
assured access for US corporations, to maintain dominance and stability
of=20
the dollar in the world economy, and to impose US global control to
ensure=20
our economic and political interests. =20

Even major GOP contributors have misgivings.  In a full page ad in the
Wall=20
Street Journal 1-13-03, entitled "A Republican Dissent on Iraq," they
stated=
,=20
Mr. President=E2=80=A6.The candidate we supported in 2000 promised a
more hu=
mble=20
nation in our dealings with the world.  We gave him our votes and our=20
campaign contributions.  That candidate was you.  We feel betrayed.  We
want=
=20
our money back.  We want our country back=E2=80=A6A billion bitter
enemies w=
ill rise=20
out of this war.      =20

Background information
1.  In 1958 the Iraqi revolution deposed the British-backed monarchy.
In=20
1972, Iraq nationalized its Western-owned oil fields.  It then became
the=20
target of CIA covert operations with the help of the Shah of Iran to
foment=20=
a=20
Kurdish uprising in the North which contains half of Iraq's oil supply.

2.  Iraq has oil reserves of over 110 billion barrels of proven oil
reserves=
=20
and probably more, the second largest after Saudi Arabia's. Control of
this=20
oil is the big prize. Saddam Hussein has been making deals with drilling
and=
=20
service contractors from Turkey, Russia France, deals which exclude US
and=20
British firms. Iraq also tries to "rattle the markets" with cut offs,
or=20
increasing exports.  "All of this must be bad news for those excluded
from=20
the party: the Americans.  Yet they do not seem too worried.  That is
becaus=
e=20
there is one teeny doubt about all these deals.  Will they be worth the
pape=
r=20
they are written on when Mr. Hussein one day becomes a former dictator?"
=20
("Saddam's Charm Offensive", The Economist, 10-12-18, 2002, p. 58.)=20

3.  A key reason for this upcoming war is the administration's goal
of=20
preventing further OPEC momentum toward the euro as an oil
transaction=20
currency standard=E2=80=A6.  However, in order to pre-empt OPEC, they
need t=
o gain=20
geo-strategic control of Iraq along with its 2nd largest proven oil
reserves=
=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6
The Federal Reserve's greatest nightmare is that OPEC will switch its=20
international transactions from a dollar standard to a euro standard.
Iraq=20
actually made this switch in Nov. 2002=E2=80=A6.  (The Real but Unspoken
Rea=
sons for=20
the Upcoming Iraq War, W. Clark ([log in to unmask]), 1-26-03, Independent
Media=20
Center, <a target=_blank
href="http://wwwindymedia.org:8081)=20">http://wwwindymedia.org:8081)=20
</a>

4.  The vision and strategy for a new American global empire is laid out
in=20
the Administration's "National Security Strategy" released 9-20-02, and
in a=
=20
September 2000 paper entitled "Rebuilding America's Defenses:
Strategies,=20
Forces and Resources For A New Century".  (Both documents are available
on=20
the internet; for the latter see "Project for the New American
Century"). =20
Together, these documents plan for a newly aggressive military and
foreign=20
policy along with creation and enforcement of a worldwide "Pax
Americana" in=
=20
which the U.S. would maintain permanent U.S. military and economic
dominatio=
n=20
of every region on the globe.  This includes military bases in Iraq
from=20
which the U.S. can dominate the Middle East, including neighboring Iran.
=20
("The president's real goal in Iraq", Jay Bookman, deputy editorial
page=20
editor,  Atlanta Journal-Constitution 9-29-02). =20

5.  Many sources cite as a reason for an invasion, the desire of the
Pentago=
n=20
to test it's new technology. And an overwhelming attack on Iraq would be
a=20
strong message of non-resistance to the rest of the world!

V.   There is widespread concern about far-reaching consequences.
The Bush Administration is ignoring the many, predicted humanitarian,=20
political, economic, military, legal, environmental and cultural
consequence=
s=20
of an invasion, including the key concern that an attack will decrease
our=20
security as a result of increased terrorism and destabilization of
the=20
region.  (Consequences of a War on Iraq, Global Policy Forum.  This
source,=20
available on the internet, describes many reports in these categories,
excep=
t=20
environmental)=20

1.  Decreased security
Many authoritative persons predict world-wide anger at the U.S.,=20
destabilization of the Middle East, increased terrorism resulting in=20
decreasing security for the American people.  For Example: =20
=C2=B7 =E2=80=A6In Japan, American occupation forces quickly became
50,000 f=
riends.  In=20
Iraq, they would quickly become 50,000 terrorist
targets=E2=80=A6.Nations su=
ch as=20
China can only view the prospect of an American military consumed for
the=20
next generation by the turmoil of the Middle East as a glorious
windfall.=20
(James Webb, former Sec. of Navy under Ronald Reagan, Decorated
Marine=20
Veteran, <a target=_blank
href="http://www.opinionjournal.com)">www.opinionjournal.com)</a>
=C2=B7 If we go in (to Iraq) unilaterally, or without the full weight
of=20
international organizations behind us, if we go in with a very sparse
number=
=20
of allies, if we go in without an effective information
operation=E2=80=A6we=
're=20
liable to supercharge recruiting for al-Qaida. (Gen. Wesley Clark,
former=20
NATO Supreme Commander. <a target=_blank
href="http://www/usatoday/com.">www/usatoday/com.</a> 9-9-02)

2.  Increased likelihood that Iraq will use chemical or biological
weapons
An invasion may precipitate Iraq's use of whatever chemical or
biological=20
weapons they may yet have.  Baghdad for now appears to be drawing a
line=20
short of conducting terrorist attacks with conventional or CBW (chemical
and=
=20
biological weapons) against the United States.  Should Saddam conclude
that=20=
a=20
U.S.-led attack could no longer be deterred he probably would become
much=20
less constrained in adopting terrorist actions.  (George Tenet, CIA
Director=
,=20
10-02, <a target=_blank
href="http://www.naplesnews.com/02/10/perspective)">www.naplesnews.com/0
2/10/perspective)</a>

3.  Estimated costs of an Iraq invasion and follow-on costs.  The=20
Administration has not released any study of costs, although fired
economic=20
advisor, Larry Lindsey predicted a cost of $100 to $200 billion.  The=20
Congressional Budget Office estimates:
=C2=B7 Initial deployment of troops: $9 billion to $13 billion
=C2=B7 Conducting the war: $6 billion to $9 per month
=C2=B7 Returning forces to US: $5 billion to $7 billion
=C2=B7 Temporary occupation of Iraq: $1 billion to $4 billion per month

A study by Professor William D. Nordhaus, considers costs of direct
military=
=20
spending and follow-on costs including occupation and peacekeeping,=20
reconstruction and nation-building, humanitarian assistance, impact on
oil=20
markets and macroeconomic impact.  He estimates a low (short and
favorable)=20
cost of $99 billion and a high (protracted and unfavorable) cost of
$1,924=20
billion, or nearly two trillion dollars.  This excludes costs to
other=20
countries or costs related to world-wide reactions.  While Nordhaus
estimate=
s=20
direct military sending between $50 and $140 billion, occupation and=20
peacekeeping could go as high as $500 billion.  The potential for
economic=20
instability and worldwide depression should oil markets be disrupted is
very=
=20
real with a high end cost of $1169 billion.  ("The Economic Consequences
of=20=
a=20
War with Iraq", American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Committee on=20
International Security Studies, 11-02,=20
<a target=_blank
href="http://www.amacad.org/publications/monographs/war_with_Iraq.pdf)=2
0">www.amacad.org/publications/monographs/war_with_Iraq.pdf)=20</a>

These horrific costs are likely to have devastating effects on our
economy,=20
human and infrastructure needs. Our States and Cities are already
facing=20
severe budget deficits, and are cutting essential services as a result
of th=
e=20
recession and federal tax cuts. =20


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am now available to do editing, writing, reporting, designing jobs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=20
Please take time to notice if there are curb ramps in your City. If
there=20
aren't consistently, please call your City's ADA coordinator to request
that=
=20
ramps be installed. Thank you.=20
>