Oil That Is, Black Gold, Tehran Tea ...

Osama bin Laden 1
Paul Wolfowitz 0



















Now, despite a Bush crony swinging his own deal in Kurdistan, and the other enormo-oil companies getting an "E" ticket back into the country, our invasion and occupation of Iraq was not - repeat - was not about the oil.

After all, Lover Boy Paul Wolfowitz had already pegged Iraq's oil for paying for the invasion and occupation.

Hard lesson for Wolfie, on not doing any comparative shopping, but, then again, those that have to be the first to get the new, latest/greatest, thing, always pay a higher price.

So, what do we make of this item, espied yesterday on Think Progress;

FLASHBACK: Ten Years Ago, Bin Laden Demanded Barrel Of Oil Should Cost $144

In a 1998 interview, Osama bin Laden — the terrorist organizer of 9/11 who still roams free — listed as one of his many grievances against the U.S. that Americans “have stolen $36 trillion from Muslims” by purchasing oil from Persian Gulf countries at low prices. The real price of a barrel of oil should be $144, bin Laden demanded.

Holy Cow!

Here's a headline from just the other day;

Oil passes, settles above $145 for first time; As holiday weekend approaches gas is $4.10 a gallon — another record

Light, sweet crude for August delivery settled at a record $145.29 Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up $1.72 from the previous day. Earlier in the session, the contract rose to $145.85 a barrel, also a new high.

Oil has set trading or closing records in each of the last six trading sessions.

You'd almost think for a minute, that OBL was working for the Carlyle Group, or something, pumping up Daddy Bush's portfolio.

That must have sent Jim Cramer ballistic, probably pushing the buttons on all his sound effects.

Or, maybe, a new tune

The Terrorist Hillbillies

Come and listen to a story about a man named Osama
Still on the run with a boatload of karma,
Then one day he was plannin' a new wreck
And up came a bubblin' the prices from OPEC

Oil that is, black gold, Tehran tea.

Well the first thing you know Osama's an oil seer,
Talibanfolk said "Osama move away from here"
Said "Tora Bora is the place you ought to stand"
So they loaded up the terrorists and moved to Pakistan

Hills, that is. Mountain Caves, Tribal Villages ...

Most unfortunately, all the ones with the "schoolin', the Jethro's, are in the Bush Grindhouse...

Or Congress ...


Bonus Riffs

Bill Moyers and Michael Winship: It Was Oil, All Along

Yves Smith: Bush Administration Role in Iraq Oil Deals Confirmed

NYT: Bush Administration Role in Iraq Oil Deals Confirmed

TimesOnLine UK: Alan Greenspan claims Iraq war was really for oil

Bonus Bonus

The Beverly Hillbillies 1962, 1971