What happened to the Monroe Doctrine?

I don’t think that will even be solved in the long run. I was just in the Met this past weekend looking at the Ancient Near Eastern exhibit. There were historical tidbits describing the massive Babylonian violence dating as far back as "the cradle of civilization."

So one must really ask – are the resources we need worth the price of involvement? I say yes. Once depleted, then certainly, let them be isolated in their sandbox to continue "working it out" until the end of man.

We may not be in the oil business … but the world needs oil anyway.

For those that can’t remember their history – here’s a summary of the Monroe Doctrine. I have to add that literally, the Monroe Doctrine is not really applicable as nobody is trying to colonize the United States anymore. Now if you meant that we’re colonizing the Middle East … that’s a different ball of wax altogether.

First off, saying the war in Iraq is for the oil business is way off the mark. I’ve written exhaustively on this in many places. We get around 5% of our oil from Iraq, and actually got more while Saddam was in power. If you don’t believe me go to the EIA and check the stats yourself. Moreover, the oil exported from the country is certainly subject to far more scrutiny than it was during Saddam’s reign, and therefore, your implication of us taking the oil without paying fair market value kind of goes up in smoke.

As for getting out and leaving them to fight their civil war without us, you really need to read the Iraq Study Group report, freely downloadable at the link I provided, or go to my book list and buy it from Amazon. Their civil war, and the implications of a broader regional war or some thug taking over are a very dangerous proposition, especially on one of the worst ethnic and religious fault lines on Earth—Sunni and Shia, Arab and Persian, Kurd and Turk all have a nexus there that has explosive potential.