I've been hearing that the war in Iraq was "all about oil" since the very beginning. I'm confident that now that so much time has passed you guys must have tons of proof to support this claim. Remember how so many of you said the US is currently "stealing" oil from Iraq? I'm sure you have proof of that now. Here's a small excerpt of a discussion between Russert and Kucinich:
MR. RUSSERT: Congressman, you made a very strong charge against the administration and let me show you what you said on January 19. Why is the Administration targeting Iraq? Oil. What do you base that on?
REP. KUCINICH: I base that on the fact that there is $5 trillion worth of oil above and in the ground in Iraq, that individuals involved in the administration have been involved in the oil industry, that the oil industry certainly would benefit from having the administration control Iraq, and that the fact is that, since no other case has been made to go to war against Iraq, for this nation to go to war against Iraq, oil represents the strongest incentive. ...
MR. PERLE: ... I find the accusation that this administration has embarked upon this policy for oil to be an outrageous, scurrilous charge for which, when you asked for the evidence, you will note there was none. There was simply the suggestion that, because there is oil in the ground and some administration officials have had connections with the oil industry in the past, therefore, it is the policy of the United States to take control of Iraqi oil. It is a lie, Congressman. It is an out and out lie. And Im sorry to see you give credence to it.
This was in February of 2003. Do you guys have proof yet, or are you going to continue looking foolish spouting unsubstantiated rhetoric?
MR. RUSSERT: Congressman, you made a very strong charge against the administration and let me show you what you said on January 19. Why is the Administration targeting Iraq? Oil. What do you base that on?
REP. KUCINICH: I base that on the fact that there is $5 trillion worth of oil above and in the ground in Iraq, that individuals involved in the administration have been involved in the oil industry, that the oil industry certainly would benefit from having the administration control Iraq, and that the fact is that, since no other case has been made to go to war against Iraq, for this nation to go to war against Iraq, oil represents the strongest incentive. ...
MR. PERLE: ... I find the accusation that this administration has embarked upon this policy for oil to be an outrageous, scurrilous charge for which, when you asked for the evidence, you will note there was none. There was simply the suggestion that, because there is oil in the ground and some administration officials have had connections with the oil industry in the past, therefore, it is the policy of the United States to take control of Iraqi oil. It is a lie, Congressman. It is an out and out lie. And Im sorry to see you give credence to it.
This was in February of 2003. Do you guys have proof yet, or are you going to continue looking foolish spouting unsubstantiated rhetoric?