At a commenter’s recommendation—and I’ve forgotten who it was, so speak up in the comments—I’ve been reading Charlotte Dennet’s Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil. As warned, the author is sometimes annoying and the mix of personal interests with geopolitics is frustrating at times, but it has proved a worthwhile slog through the history and geopolitics of the Middle East from the standpoint of Western neocolonial schemes. The scheming continues to the present, in constantly shifting shapes. What I’ll offer here is a summary of Chapter 8:
I recently watched Three Days of the Condor, made in 1975, but may as well have been made in June of this year. One of the last lines of the film is (Redford says), "so this is all about oil?" Indeed, it always has been.
General Tommy Franks once clearly described what he had to deal with when communicating with Douglas Feith: "I have to deal with the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the earth almost every day."
Great post! I guess I owe a lot of hippies and peaceniks an apology from when I use to scoff at their “No more war for oil” signs. Our “betters” sure are a bunch of devious f*cks.
Great post, Mark! Thank you. I hope the evidence you and others are providing will be widely shared and will make a difference - I hope it will help people recognize this evil and help them put a stop to it. I think this is a very good companion piece to the post you did recently:
One of the "bridge" paragraphs between the two posts is in that one, as follows:
"Following stipulations of Rhodes’ Will, his collaborators sparked WWI to dismantle a threatening Germany, carve up Europe, secure + expand colonial holdings by acquiring much of Ottoman Empire, giving them its oil holdings + secure Palestine as military buffer to Suez Canal."
It seems strange for "normals" like us to contemplate the idea that access to and extraction of natural resources such as oil and gas could provide so strong an impetus for the barbarism and inhumanity and wars we have seen over the years in the ME and Asia and Africa. But here we are. Why is it always deemed necessary for the "civilized" nations of the West to take by force that which could be peacefully negotiated or bought or sold? To dictate rather than to listen? To attack rather than to aid? As opposed to the "spreading civilization" mantra put forward by the Brits of the 19th and early 20th Century and Teddy Roosevelt, I don't consider such attitudes and actions either representative of Christianity or of civilization.
"Why is it always deemed necessary for the "civilized" nations of the West to take by force that which could be peacefully negotiated or bought or sold? ... I don't consider such attitudes and actions either representative of Christianity or of civilization."
Nor are such actions representative of a belief in capitalism, free competition and free markets, property rights, the rule of law, due process, or self-government.
These actions, of course, expose the utter hypocrisy of our western Elites, who profess (think of the rhetoric of the Neocons in Ukraine) that they are acting to further 'Democracy' when their actions are in furtherance of exactly the opposite.
They tell us that helping Ukraine serves America’s national security interests and "democratic values". That a defeat in Ukraine would be a massive setback for "democracy" and usher in a more dangerous and unstable world. That a defeat would encourage Russian aggression against other neighboring "democracies", threaten Europe, and embolden "Communist" China against "Democratic" Taiwan. We do not hear a word about US motives in furthering US control over Ukraine, or the rest of the world. Just "Democracy".
It is this cognitive dissonance which I believe the American People are struggling with. The Ivy League-educated, suit-clad, smooth-talking, multi-millionaire politicians, financiers and newscasters of the Ruling Class are fundamentally lying to us while the rude and crude representatives of the Deplorables (think Donald Trump) are actually telling the truth.
They told us that Donald Trump is a Russian Agent and a traitor (and a rapist, fraudster and insurrectionist). They told us the Russia Hoax was absolutely true. They told us Hunter's Laptop was Russian disinformation. They told us Joe never talks to Hunter about his business dealings. They told us Vladimir Putin is a madman. They just lie.
I've said this before here, but it is really and truly the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.
Thanks, Cassander, great comment! It is so important to recognize this: "Nor are such actions representative of a belief in capitalism, free competition and free markets, property rights, the rule of law, due process, or self-government." I agree with 100%. The "elites" who act in these ways are incredibly destructive in so many ways and what they wrought has effects for multiple generations.
The movie “Mad Max” seems to paint the dystopia in our future then we might have thought all those years ago. Entertaining in the 80’s and frightening realism today.
I am reminded of the second film, Road Warrior often. Particularly the beginning 'intro' where the montage and voice over get us to a current day in Road Warrior. The narrator says, "... and they talked... and talked... and talked while the world crumbled around them" (paraphrasing here). Seems like this is where we are.. lots of talk these days!
Yes. What the book has added to that view is the pipeline connection--Kirkuk to Haifa, implicating Palestine much more deeply into the geopolitical machinations of empire and linking it to current events.
All true, but let's not underestimate the crazy religious overtones to all this. Some of Bibi's supporters' views on biblical Israel make evangelic Christians seem like atheists.
Correct. We often assign more moral credibility than our psychopathic leaders deserve. What’s a few deaths among the proles when there is so much wealth and power to grab.
I think Netanyahu and the Israeli neocons are just blinded by arrogance, like their UK and UK counterparts. They believe that revenge-driven conquest is the answer. They believe that the US will fund them indefinitely (thanks, Speaker Johnson for the $18 bn!) and that the surrounding Arab nations will do nothing.
At this point I don't dare pretend to know anything other than we have crossed a rubicon where dead and dying newborn babies are being explained away as a necessary means to an end while the world looks the other way. May God forgive us.
I think we lost the moral high ground a long time ago, Kat, but it's taken a while for us to in the West to realise it. The RoW realised a long time ago.
I just watched a French documentary about them. They live as if it's still Poland in the 18th century. Completely insane, but you have to admire their grit.
Yes, as regards Egypt, there is the gas field issue but also that they do not want responsibility for overseeing/controlling the Palestinians. The idea of them taking in the Palestinians in return for writing down the debt was already proposed to them by Israel and they turned it down as it would be too potentially destabilizing for them. Plus they can turn to BRICS for help with their fiscal/monetary problems.
Egypt doesn't want the Gazans for many reasons. They don't want radical Islamists in their midst, they don't want the economic burden in an already ailing country, and last but not least, despite their agreements with Israel, they don't what to give the Israelis the satisfaction of helping them get Gaza.
I recently watched Three Days of the Condor, made in 1975, but may as well have been made in June of this year. One of the last lines of the film is (Redford says), "so this is all about oil?" Indeed, it always has been.
General Tommy Franks once clearly described what he had to deal with when communicating with Douglas Feith: "I have to deal with the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the earth almost every day."
Tommy Franks of all people would know about stupidity.
Love it!
But he hadn't met Joe Biden yet.
Great post! I guess I owe a lot of hippies and peaceniks an apology from when I use to scoff at their “No more war for oil” signs. Our “betters” sure are a bunch of devious f*cks.
Great post.
Makes sense why Turkey said they’d invade Cyprus if the gas deal went through.
Goes to show how ‘independent’ Erdogan is.
Great post, Mark! Thank you. I hope the evidence you and others are providing will be widely shared and will make a difference - I hope it will help people recognize this evil and help them put a stop to it. I think this is a very good companion piece to the post you did recently:
https://meaninginhistory.substack.com/p/big-picture-historical-background
One of the "bridge" paragraphs between the two posts is in that one, as follows:
"Following stipulations of Rhodes’ Will, his collaborators sparked WWI to dismantle a threatening Germany, carve up Europe, secure + expand colonial holdings by acquiring much of Ottoman Empire, giving them its oil holdings + secure Palestine as military buffer to Suez Canal."
It seems strange for "normals" like us to contemplate the idea that access to and extraction of natural resources such as oil and gas could provide so strong an impetus for the barbarism and inhumanity and wars we have seen over the years in the ME and Asia and Africa. But here we are. Why is it always deemed necessary for the "civilized" nations of the West to take by force that which could be peacefully negotiated or bought or sold? To dictate rather than to listen? To attack rather than to aid? As opposed to the "spreading civilization" mantra put forward by the Brits of the 19th and early 20th Century and Teddy Roosevelt, I don't consider such attitudes and actions either representative of Christianity or of civilization.
@dissonant
"Why is it always deemed necessary for the "civilized" nations of the West to take by force that which could be peacefully negotiated or bought or sold? ... I don't consider such attitudes and actions either representative of Christianity or of civilization."
Nor are such actions representative of a belief in capitalism, free competition and free markets, property rights, the rule of law, due process, or self-government.
These actions, of course, expose the utter hypocrisy of our western Elites, who profess (think of the rhetoric of the Neocons in Ukraine) that they are acting to further 'Democracy' when their actions are in furtherance of exactly the opposite.
They tell us that helping Ukraine serves America’s national security interests and "democratic values". That a defeat in Ukraine would be a massive setback for "democracy" and usher in a more dangerous and unstable world. That a defeat would encourage Russian aggression against other neighboring "democracies", threaten Europe, and embolden "Communist" China against "Democratic" Taiwan. We do not hear a word about US motives in furthering US control over Ukraine, or the rest of the world. Just "Democracy".
It is this cognitive dissonance which I believe the American People are struggling with. The Ivy League-educated, suit-clad, smooth-talking, multi-millionaire politicians, financiers and newscasters of the Ruling Class are fundamentally lying to us while the rude and crude representatives of the Deplorables (think Donald Trump) are actually telling the truth.
They told us that Donald Trump is a Russian Agent and a traitor (and a rapist, fraudster and insurrectionist). They told us the Russia Hoax was absolutely true. They told us Hunter's Laptop was Russian disinformation. They told us Joe never talks to Hunter about his business dealings. They told us Vladimir Putin is a madman. They just lie.
I've said this before here, but it is really and truly the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.
Thanks, Cassander, great comment! It is so important to recognize this: "Nor are such actions representative of a belief in capitalism, free competition and free markets, property rights, the rule of law, due process, or self-government." I agree with 100%. The "elites" who act in these ways are incredibly destructive in so many ways and what they wrought has effects for multiple generations.
The movie “Mad Max” seems to paint the dystopia in our future then we might have thought all those years ago. Entertaining in the 80’s and frightening realism today.
I am reminded of the second film, Road Warrior often. Particularly the beginning 'intro' where the montage and voice over get us to a current day in Road Warrior. The narrator says, "... and they talked... and talked... and talked while the world crumbled around them" (paraphrasing here). Seems like this is where we are.. lots of talk these days!
Especially having to survive on tins of dog food.
you remember....;o)
As a Kat, I imagine that would be even worse for you!
Yes. What the book has added to that view is the pipeline connection--Kirkuk to Haifa, implicating Palestine much more deeply into the geopolitical machinations of empire and linking it to current events.
To the adage “follow the money” we can now add “follow the oil!” Of course to the voracious, swashbuckling Brits, they’re the same thing.
All true, but let's not underestimate the crazy religious overtones to all this. Some of Bibi's supporters' views on biblical Israel make evangelic Christians seem like atheists.
Hence the name, “Black Gold.”
Agreed.
It seems that when they spoke of "spreading civilization" they really meant expanding the areas of dominance for western civilization.
As a car bumper sticker once said: "Give us what we want or we'll bring you democracy"
Interesting
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas_in_the_Gaza_Strip
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/6/21/palestines-forgotten-oil-and-gas-resources
To add some historical balance I would recommend "The Forgotten Ally" by Van Paasen.
Balance: Intel-Roundtable w/ Larry Johnson & Ray McGovern: Did Bibi know of Hamas attack?
It's inconceivable that he didn't.
Correct. We often assign more moral credibility than our psychopathic leaders deserve. What’s a few deaths among the proles when there is so much wealth and power to grab.
More Balance: https://youtu.be/UaWY2AHcU8A
Your articles should be presented in MSM on daily bases to wake the F! up masses. Unfortunately we know those cowards won’t do it.
That’s for the book tip, will get it for sure.
This link has an update - IDF have raised Israeli flag and stated Gaza is their land. Iran is spitting feathers. We wait...
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israeli-tanks-have-gaza-hospitals-surrounded-un-decries-hell-earth
That flag-raising immediately reminded me of the Wehrmacht raising the Nazi flag in Stalingrad. It was premature to say the least.
It seems like an overt provocation. Is it to test the resolve of surrounding nations who to this point have been talking a good game but little else?
I think Netanyahu and the Israeli neocons are just blinded by arrogance, like their UK and UK counterparts. They believe that revenge-driven conquest is the answer. They believe that the US will fund them indefinitely (thanks, Speaker Johnson for the $18 bn!) and that the surrounding Arab nations will do nothing.
At this point I don't dare pretend to know anything other than we have crossed a rubicon where dead and dying newborn babies are being explained away as a necessary means to an end while the world looks the other way. May God forgive us.
May God forgive us indeed, Amanda. I suspect he is having a few regrets!
Moral high ground has been lost to the West and its allies. Perhaps now we know that the moral high ground was a shifting sand dune.
That's a very poetic way of describing it and very apt.
I think we lost the moral high ground a long time ago, Kat, but it's taken a while for us to in the West to realise it. The RoW realised a long time ago.
Not good.
Even if the IDF wins the battle, they and Israel have lost the war.
Interesting about the orthodox Jews. They certainly don't believe in a secular Jewish state.
I just watched a French documentary about them. They live as if it's still Poland in the 18th century. Completely insane, but you have to admire their grit.
The book was my tip. It is a clunky read but in terms of tying threads together it's a good place to start.
Sorry I forgot. Thanks! Yes, a lot of things make more sense now.
Yes.
A 100+ year history of 'weaving' by inveterate liars can produce one seriously tangled up ball of yarn.
Yes, as regards Egypt, there is the gas field issue but also that they do not want responsibility for overseeing/controlling the Palestinians. The idea of them taking in the Palestinians in return for writing down the debt was already proposed to them by Israel and they turned it down as it would be too potentially destabilizing for them. Plus they can turn to BRICS for help with their fiscal/monetary problems.
Egypt doesn't want the Gazans for many reasons. They don't want radical Islamists in their midst, they don't want the economic burden in an already ailing country, and last but not least, despite their agreements with Israel, they don't what to give the Israelis the satisfaction of helping them get Gaza.
Hey, do you really think we Brits are going to keep ourselves warm next year by burning our Chippendale furniture?