"Stay Behind" strategies in Iraq

[Jamie Lawrence]

On Fri, 11 Apr 2003, James A. Donald wrote:

> > It's good for Iraq that they have oil. Having oil is always 
> > better than not having oil.
> 
> Oil is an attractive nuisance.  Attracts gangs of men with 
> guns.  While Iraq has oil, Iraqis do not have oil and never 
> will.  Observe the richest newly developed countries are those 
> with absolutely zero resources, Hong Kong with nothing but 
> rock, Singapore with nothing but sandbanks.


I find it strange (not because I disagree with the thrust of James'
arguments, but because he's usually bent on an idealist crusade) that
I completely agree. I'll find if odd if the US regime finishes the
term without attacking another target that (a) doesn't have much in the
way of self defense and (b) is in the way of bringing oil to market.

-j


-- 
Jamie Lawrence                                        jal at jal.org
"Remember, half-measures can be very effective if all you deal with are
half-wits."
   - Chris Klein