Is Oil the Real Reason for Invading Iraq?

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In the first presidential debate, John Kerry said the President has failed to persuade the rest of the world the US does not have long-term designs on Iraq. Kerry said, "When you guard the oil ministry, but you don't guard nuclear facilities, the message to a lot of people is...maybe they're interested in our oil." Neither the President nor the moderator picked up on the comment. What are America's long-term, economic interests in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East? How important to US security are Iraq's oil reserves? Why don't the media pay more attention, especially in an election year? Warren Olney hears from economists, experts in defense, public policy, international affairs and the media, and former consultants to the International Monetary Fund and the Pentagon.
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Joint Treasury/OMB statement on budget results for 2004

First Presidential Debate (30 September, Florida)

Second Presidential Debate (8 October, Missouri)

Third Presidential Debate (13 October, Arizona)

Duelfer Report on Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction

Montopoli's article on journalists' seeking balance

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney