What makes a war What makes a war happen?happen?

Backstage of the American attack Backstage of the American attack against Iraq inagainst Iraq in 1991 1991

Part of the material for the course “Models and Natural Resources Management 1”, Milan Technical University.

The expenses for the Gulf warThe expenses for the Gulf war

40 40 billion US dollarsbillion US dollars

oror 42 42 billion eurosbillion euros

But who paid for this?But who paid for this?Instinctively Instinctively we saywe say that thethat the $ 40 $ 40 billion,billion,

was paid by the USAwas paid by the USA

This is partially trueThis is partially true: : indeedindeed……

40 40 BILLIONBILLION $ $

25% 25% of the expensesof the expenses was paid by the USAwas paid by the USA

(10 billion$)(10 billion$)

75% 75% of the expensesof the expenses was paid was paid by the Arab countriesby the Arab countries, ,

specifically byspecifically by Kuwait and Kuwait and Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia (30 (30 billionbillion $) $)

Where did they find this money?Where did they find this money?

The oil price before the war was approx.The oil price before the war was approx. 15$ 15$ per barrelper barrel......

……but with the Gulf war, it rose tobut with the Gulf war, it rose to 42 $ 42 $ per barrelper barrel, , generating angenerating an EXTRA EXTRA profit of aboutprofit of about 60 60 billionbillion $ $

Who did this profit go to?Who did this profit go to?

In the Arab countries the “fifty – fifty” law is valid: 50% to the state and 50% to the multinational that controls

the oil deposit. This gives us…

Where did they find this money?Where did they find this money?

Net profit from the increase in the Net profit from the increase in the price of oilprice of oil: 60 : 60 billionbillion $ $

30 30 billionbillion $ $ to the to the oil companiesoil companies

30 30 billionbillion $ $ to the to the governments of the Arab governments of the Arab states (Kuwait +states (Kuwait + Saudi Saudi

ArabiaArabia))

Who owns the oil companies?Who owns the oil companies?

In the Middle East, the extraction and trading of oil is in the hands of the 7 Sister (Shell, Tamoil, Esso…), all of which are

American, and 5 are state owned.

30 billion $

Approx. 21 billion $ to the American State

Approx. 9 billion$ to the American private

sector

Let’s make some calculationsLet’s make some calculations……

21 $

billion

10$

billionUSA

GOVERNMENT

9 $

billion

30 $

billion

Profit from the increase in the

oil prices

0USA Private

Sector

030$

billionArab Nations

Profit or lossExpenses of war

ProfitProfit $ 9 $ 9 billionbillion

Now all is clear… USA have made a profit of 20$$

billion from the war! It had nothing to do with “Free Kuwait”… they were only after the “cheese” !

ProfitProfit 11 $ 11 $ billionbillion

But this is not over yetBut this is not over yet……

Finally, who paid the Finally, who paid the ’91’91 war against Iraq?war against Iraq?

Those who use the oil…

…which means us!!!

But this is not over yetBut this is not over yet……

1. So, the USA, have made a total profit of...

$ 11 billion from the oil

$ 49 billion from the weapons!!!

But this is not over yetBut this is not over yet……

2. Where did the $ 40 billion spent for the war go?

To the war industry, all of which just happens to be almost exclusively…

AMERICAN!!!

Last thoughtsLast thoughts

Now it is easy to assume that the Gulf war in Now it is easy to assume that the Gulf war in 1991,1991,happened for financial reasons onlyhappened for financial reasons only, , and not for and not for some “humanitarian reason” or for the “right to some “humanitarian reason” or for the “right to

freedom”freedom”..

But now it is easy to understand two other events:the reason behind the war in Afghanistan and the new war

against Iraq

Last thoughtsLast thoughtsThe war in Afghanistan had as a main target the installation of

a pawn government that would agree with the construction of a pipe line (American owned), of 2.500 km length that

would run across its territory.

This strategically important pipe line, has as unique alternative, the construction of another one, of 5.500 km lenght, much more costly to construct and maintain, due to the taxes that would be

imposed to the USA by the countries through which it would run.

It is much easier to reduce to dust a country already tormented by 30 years of war and turn it into your annex, with

the possibility of constructing and managing the shortest pipe line without any trouble at all.

Last thoughtsLast thoughts

To understand whyTo understand why Bush jr. Bush jr. wants to attackwants to attack Iraq Iraq again, again, we must know that the main supplier of oil in the we must know that the main supplier of oil in the

Middle East is Saudi Arabia. Middle East is Saudi Arabia.

The rupture of their relationship cannot be mended, because The rupture of their relationship cannot be mended, because Saudi Arabia is one of the countries involved in the Saudi Arabia is one of the countries involved in the Bin Laden, Bin Laden,

terrorist movement and because the International Public terrorist movement and because the International Public Opinion is against this country due to their lack of respect of the Opinion is against this country due to their lack of respect of the

Human rights. Human rights.

So, the So, the Bush administration has a goal: Bush administration has a goal: to find an alternative oil to find an alternative oil supplier except for Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.supplier except for Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.

Last thoughtsLast thoughtsThe easiest way, of course, is a war in Iraq and the installation of The easiest way, of course, is a war in Iraq and the installation of

a pawn government under USA guidance. The answer that a pawn government under USA guidance. The answer that spontaneously comes to mind is “Why Iraq?” spontaneously comes to mind is “Why Iraq?”

For 3 simple reasonsFor 3 simple reasons: :

It is a country that cannot defend itselfIt is a country that cannot defend itself ( (poverty due to the embargo is killing poverty due to the embargo is killing 300.000300.000 babies/year due to malnutritionbabies/year due to malnutrition).).

Iraq offers an easy excuseIraq offers an easy excuse ((the presence of non-existent weapons of mass the presence of non-existent weapons of mass destruction, that can be only produced with high technology which Iraq does destruction, that can be only produced with high technology which Iraq does not have) to not have) to justify the attack to the International community that knows justify the attack to the International community that knows nothing about oil deposits. nothing about oil deposits.

Until now, Iraq does not have the support of a powerful nation, that would be Until now, Iraq does not have the support of a powerful nation, that would be in the position to withstand the American threat. in the position to withstand the American threat.

Last thoughtsLast thoughts

On top of this, in the lastOn top of this, in the last 3 3 yearsyears, a social revolution has taken , a social revolution has taken place in Venezuela, due to the terrible living conditions. place in Venezuela, due to the terrible living conditions.

Venezuela Venezuela is the greatest oil supplier for the USA.is the greatest oil supplier for the USA.

TheThe BushBush administration had to find an alternative to Saudi Arabia administration had to find an alternative to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. and Venezuela.

What can we do?What can we do?

Inform as many people as you can about the true Inform as many people as you can about the true reasons reasons behind this war. An ignorant person is easy behind this war. An ignorant person is easy

to controlto control. . A person thinking logically can resist!A person thinking logically can resist!

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