April 11, 2003 - The Iraqis really got hammered and it appears that we are in the final stages before "victory" is officially declared -- the great statue of S. Hussein was pulled down as millions watched all over the world via that convenient pipe line for news and pics called TV. Further down this page the subject of oil is mentioned -- an issue vehemently denied by the Bush administration as to motives for going after Saddam. In an interesting article published yesterday (April 10) coming from the Middle East Media Research Institute it was observed that Iraq is the only oil producing country that can compete with Saudi Arabia and if the U.S. works a bit on the matter, Iraq's oil (it has confirmed 11 percent of known world's oil reserves) production can be increased from 2.5 million barrels per day to potential capacity of 8.2 million b/d! Iraq has 12 oil refineries with a refining capacity of 677,000 b/d. Anyone still want to insist we will keep our noses totally -- entirely -- completely out of Iraqi oil happenings in the months and possibly years ahead??? The article also pointed out that it is Iraq's potential oil production that can break the back of OPEC! Just something to ponder over -- and a challenge to watch and listen to all bits of information that refer to oil and the country of Iraq in the future!

February 13, 2003 - Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says we will not rule out use of nuclear weapons in a "war" with Iraq! Ooooooh! If in the past such rhetoric would have been used there would have been such a storm of protest in DC that the White House would have been under siege! It's almost like someone has a very itchy finger and is licking his chops in anticipation of pushing that red button! And further, is there a sizable audience that is saying, "Go do it -- we haven't had fireworks like this since August 1945 in Japan!" ????????

January 2003 - Belsano PA -- As we get underway in the new year of 2003 citizens of the U.S. of A. continue to be inundated with information about the impending "war" with Iraq -- that info comes over TV, radio, the internet, and through print media of newspapers and weekly news magazines. Quite a number of units of the U.S. military apparatus are heading for some place in the middle east as the president is on a roll in his campaign to persuade everyone that the #1 bad guy in the world is Saddam Hussein -- it appears that Saddam has shoved Osama bin Laden out of that choice position, since we don't hear much about Osama anymore!

As the military assembles and prepares to take out this alleged #1 fiend with his great collection of "weapons of mass destruction" one has to wonder if there isn't more to this than we are really being told -- there are some possibilities that may exist which suggest that maybe the president isn't being totally up front regarding his "crusade."

Could it be that George Sr. is nudging G.W. a bit on this matter -- roughly translated it would come out something like this -- "Son, I really fumbled the ball in that Desert Storm affair. We should have gone on into Baghdad and nailed Saddam's hide to the wall, but we didn't. I was a bit afraid of what the world community might say, so we just sort of negotiated a settlement under a tent out in the middle of the desert, and Saddam remained in power. But now's the golden opportunity -- you've been talking a good talk, and even a lot of Democrats are on board -- so go get 'em, son, and make me proud of you!"

But there is also another interesting wrinkle in this drama -- one word sums it all up -- that word is "oil!" Since the U.S. is apparently going to go all the way in this venture with very little support from anyone else, and since it is said that plans are in place as to what will be done after Saddam is removed from power, then someone is going to have a lot of say about how the government in Iraq will function in the time following Saddam's expulsion -- and guess what a significant part of that will involve? Bingo! Something called "oil" and the marketing of that interesting commodity -- a fraction of an ounce of common sense would tell anyone that the subject of oil will be given a lot of attention.

And since the Bush administration has pushed for the removal of Saddam, it will take little effort with the help of a media blitz to persuade the world that we need to hang around a while to make sure a "stable" government is established in Iraq. Why this could take years -- remember we are still bogged down in a place called Bosnia and another place called Afghanistan -- you know, we're still in the process of "stabilizing" those places!

It is practically a guarantee -- get a good war going and you can get a sluggish economy cranked up in rather short order -- sort of like hooking up a high pressure air hose to a flat tire -- in almost a blink of an eye you have the thing inflated and ready to go!

Of course, wars also have a couple of other benefits -- you not only lose a number of young people in the process, but you also add a few billions of dollars to an ever expanding national debt -- but then we've been destroying millions of young in the womb for 30 years and we've been adding billions to the national debt for years on end, so what's the big deal????

And have you noticed how Bush's aggressive agenda concerning Iraq compares to attention given to some other countries that are not real trustworthy when it comes to "weapons of mass destruction?" These possess the kind of stuff which can tear things up more than just a tad, but then they don't have any significant oil supplies in their ground!

There is North Korea which makes no bones about the fact that it is going to crank up the gears for making nuclear stuff. And talk about crazy guys being in charge -- Saddam doesn't give much competition when it comes to North Korean leadership! For a limited time you can view an article on the North Korean version of a "gulag" at North Korea's "gulag" -- if all this is true, how much protest do you suppose will come not only from the Bush administration, but from other countries who claim to be "civilized" -- we do have one thing in common with North Korea, however -- seems they have methods of systematically eliminating unborn children and so do we!!!

Even worse, however, is China with well over 1 billion population -- it can afford to lose a few million and still overrun the world! And it does have and continues to assemble its own stockpile of mass destruction weapons, and as you probably realize by now, we are helping to extensively finance this operation with our mass purchasing of goods made in China -- it boils down to the fact that we are paying them for the rope with which they hope to eventually hang us!

China still occupies and controls the nation of Tibet -- how long has it been since you heard Bush tell the Chinese to get out and let the people of Tibet control their own nation and let the Dalai Lama go back to his home? If you want to pursue this matter further you can check a number of links on the issue at Free Tibet Links or go to Tibet On Line-- use return feature on your browser to come back here.

China also has indicated its goal to have a "united" China by 2010. You know what that means don't you -- one way or another, Taiwan will be under the control of mainland China by 2010! Even a slight familiarity with the People's Republic of China v. Taiwan situation brings one face to face with the reality that more than a couple of shots will be fired over the bow of a canoe in order to bring that goal to pass!

Will the U.S. protest that move? Well, maybe a bit of rhetoric will be thrown around, but it's highly doubtful anything of substance will be done. Besides we will have had our national strength so weakened by that time we likely wouldn't be able to do anything if we wanted to and on top of that, we'll probably be still in there trying to get Iraq "stabilized" -- or maybe we could strike a hot deal with the Chinese -- if they will back off from taking over Taiwan, we'll give them a few million barrels of Iraqi oil!

You see, in all this confusion and talk of going to war, it is a very wise decision on the part of leaders of a nation which prattles on about being a "nation under God" to do some serious examining and determine as to whether we are moving forward under the guidance and blessing of this God or whether we and this God have come to the parting of the ways! But national leadership being what it is these days, it is highly doubtful that such an examination will take place.

… can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Amos 3:3 NKJV

It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. Psalm 119:126-128 NKJV

January 11, 2003
Clayton D. Harriger
Elder in Full Connection
Western PA Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
and presently pastor of
Gipsy Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Gipsy, PA

For further reference see:

Mr. President, We Need to Get Our Own House in Order First!
President Bush Failing to Factor in the Keystone for Homeland Security!
Weapons of Mass Destruction? Why Does Bush Not Include ALL of Them?
Imploding a Culture by Destroying the Young!
Popular Deities of American Culture!
How to Dismantle a Culture in 3 Easy Steps!
God Bless America? Really Now, Why Should He?
Trashing Sacred Gifts -- 21st Century Style!
"But doctor, I feel good and people say I look great!
Atrocities? Well, It Depends on Your Definition of What Is or Isn't!
United States Holocaust Gallery!
A National Rage Against Violence, BUT Not Always!
USA's Hidden Horrors!
Justice Denied!
Hold It, Mr. President -- About That Statement, "We respect life."

NOTE: Use return feature on your web browser to return here from the above areas.