WTC.OIL

# Oil and the War on Afghanistan

"We've embarked on the beginning of the last days of the age of oil. Embrace the future and recognize the growing demand for a wide range of fuels, or ignore reality and slowly --but surely-- be left behind." -Michael Bowlin, CEO, ARCO (now BP), Houston, TX, 2-9-99 | "No matter how advanced our economy might be, no matter how sophisticated our equipment becomes, for the foreseeable future we will still depend on fossil fuels." -Presidential candidate George W. Bush, Pontiac, MI, 9-13-2000

"...all the bloodshed in Afghanistan was for the clarification of the world's energy map of the 21st century" - Turkish Daily News 6-30-97

The impact of American oil interests and the Bush-Cheney energy stance on U.S.-Afghanistan politics has been apparent to observers for years. Has this influenced American actions in response to the events of 9-11? OVERVIEW: Oil Export Routes in the Caspian Sea Region The importance of an Afghanistan route for Caspian oil - Congressional testimony of Unocal VP John Maresca (also found at Congressional record 2-12-98) Oil War II, the Sequel: The Empire Strikes Back in the Caspian "all regional powers are focusing increasingly on how to protect or enlarge their access to vi tal resources over the next generation. " War on Terror Profitable NEW Caspian Sea Region: Regional Conflicts How the Afghan civil was has been preventing oil development in the region Background: Oil in Afghanistan Region NEW Caspian Sea Region - Background - "The Caspian Sea region is important to world markets because it has large oil a nd gas reserves that are only now beginning to be fully developed. Developing these resources has resulted in competi tion both between companies to get the contracts to develop this potential, and between countries to dete rmine the final export routes. " The Caspian Oil Sweepstakes -- A Great Game Replayed The U.S. and the West take a "keen interest" in the region's oil The Bush Family 'Oiligarchy' Part Four: At the Candidate's Ear - Cheney's Money "Reiner joked that the Republican idea of diversity was “two guys at the head of the ticket that are from two different oil companies.” F ollow the Oil Trail - Mess in Afghanistan Partly Our Government's Fault A prescient report about the disastrous interaction of oil and religion "Every time the United States attempts one of these slick back-door deals, U.S. citizens get burned. Our foreign policy community never seems to learn that religion and ideology are as strong a force in this region as money or guns." Background on the CentGas Consortium U.S. owned Unocal oil company had almost 50% of shares in failed plan to build Afghanistan oil pipeline Environmental Impacts of the CentGas Pipleline in Afghanistan Behavior of oil companies questioned Groups move to revoke Unocal's charter Company handling Afghanistan oil pipeline accused of complicity in ""unspeakable" human rights violations" ### Resources and Links Natural Gas- References | ### Oil and U.S. interests Routes to riches - "Afghanistan has huge strategic importance for the west as a corridor to the untapped fuel reserves in central Asia" Oil, Afghanistan and America's pipe dream""Afghanistan's significance from an energy standpoint stems from its geographical position as a potential transit route for oil and natural gas exports from central Asia to the Arabian sea." Cheney's Black Gold: Oil Interests May Drive US Foreign Policy"Cheney and his fellow oilmen have zeroed in on the world's other major source of oil--the Caspian Sea. Cheney told a gaggle of oil industry executives in 1998, "I can't think of a time when we've had a region emerge as suddenly to become as strategically significant as the Caspian." The Dubya Doctrine: Caspian Oil Not surprisingly, the Dubya Doctrine has put international conflicts that involve oil-producing countries at the top of the U.S. diplomatic agenda. "…Bush participation represented "the nexus between oil politics and geopolitics."" Evidence of Oil Company Meddling from Afghanistan to Turkey "...all the bloodshed in Afghanistan was for the clarification of the world's energy map of the 21st century" Ending oil dependency "The oil economy makes industrialised countries more vulnerable and reduces our diplomatic options. A long-term security strategy requires a fundamental shift in energy policy." Never mind the pundits, the root cause remains the same - by Johnny Angel The real underlying factor behind America's involvement:Oil. Global Eye - Mind Games This piece from the Moscow Times is quoted at the Oil News website: "Cheney's business interests in oil and arms, temporarily divested while he helps direct American policy in energy and defense, rival those of the Bushes and bin Ladens. Or as the Chicago Tribune noted last year: "War is big business, and Dick Cheney is right in the middle of it."" ### Impacts of war on access to oil Peace in Afghanistan could open door for regional gas pipelines "The energy map of central Asia and Afghanistan is about to be redrawn."